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)

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/

Janji Democrasi in Malacca on 30th Aug 2012

A new dawn?

August 31, 2012

By May Chee

AUG 31 — Woke up around 7am today, after about five hours of sleep. By the way, “Selamat Hari Merdeka” folks! 

My husband and I went for the Janji Demokrasi Merdeka Countdown at the clock tower in Malacca last night. Again, it was another heartwarming experience. Syabas to all those who gathered there and elsewhere for the Janji Demokrasi!

This time around, no untoward incidents, I hear. That’s good, really good. See, if we have everyone’s good intentions in mind, all would be swell.

We left our house at 9pm. There was ample parking around the designated area. As we walked towards the clock tower, we could see cops and Rela personnel already in position. Since we were early, we walked towards Jonker, hoping to join some people at the stage. Along the way, we met some friends, so we headed for the stage together. Some yellow shirts were walking in the opposite direction. They were heading towards the clock tower. All youths. Good, I thought!

At the stage, there was a handful of yellow shirts and a group of around 15 members from the Unit Amal PAS. By 9.30pm the group had swelled to quite a huge number. After taking a group photograph at the foot of the stage, our Unit Amal youngsters led us to the clock tower. Before that, we were told to be at our best behaviour, not to provoke nor hamper the traffic. We walked on the pavement and at all times, the Unit Amal boys made sure traffic for the public was smooth. Though the folks along Jonker were burning incense and some other stuff (Ghost Month?), the Unit Amal boys admirably braved the ashes (some flying into their faces) to guide us. 

I just love these Unit Amal boys. I’ve seen how selfless they can be during my Bersih 2 experience. Now and then when I see some fools pitting us non-Muslims against our Malaysian brothers and sisters from PAS, I feel so irritated. I may run when I see some people but definitely not when I see these boys from the Unit Amal. I bet my last ringgit they will lay down their lives for me, a Chinese Christian, but not their detractors! So I say to these detractors, don’t waste your time spewing such venom. Our PAS brethren have my vote, any time! 

At the clock tower, by 10pm, the group was huge. The whole place was swarmed with yellow shirts and others. Again, it was heart-warming to see Malaysians from all walks of life gathered there. Young and old, even kids, armed with the Jalur Gemilang waving, chanting in unison, while waiting for the clock to strike midnight. I saw so many familiar faces, and at the same time made some new friends. A friend remarked that at events like this, you cannot escape the fact that we, Malaysians, are united in wanting the best for our country. I’m so proud of my fellow Malaysians. I really am.

Again, my Malacca cops did us proud. Some guided traffic while some lined themselves along the road to prevent the exuberant ones from rushing into the traffic. We were around the clock tower and also on the opposite side of the road as there wasn’t enough room to house all of us around the clock tower. Apart from the chanting of slogans like “Hidup ,Hidup, Hidup Rakyat”, “Janji, Janji, Janji Demokrasi”, etc, there were also some trumpeting of vuvuzelas. We also sang the “Negaraku”. Now and then, when some motorists honked their vehicles as a mark of solidarity with us, the crowd went into a frenzy, waving their flags and started chanting again.

I saw how the younger cops wore faces of great restrain amidst the din. They were unsmiling, only because, I think, they were taking their duties seriously. However, there was this tall, fair, policewoman who walked along the road smiling broadly. She made a pretty picture! I also noticed how some guy who at one moment could be chanting “Negara Bersih, Rakyat Sihat” and the next bantering away with this senior policeman. I heard that the latter was the leader of the team deployed at the clock tower. Great chap; was smiling throughout. Really, I love my Malacca cops! 

At a quarter to midnight, a group of people made their way to the balcony of the Stadhuys opposite the clock tower. They took turns to lead us in chanting those slogans. One of them read out the “10 Tuntutan Janji Demokrasi” which went like this:

Membersihkan senarai pengundi

Mereformaiskan undi pos

Menggunakan dakwat kekal

Minima 21 hari berkempen

Ases media yang bebas dan adil

Kukuhkan institusi awam

Hentikan rasuah

Hentikan politik kotor

Pihak SPR harus meletak jawatan

Menjemput pemantau dari luar negeri

When the clock struck midnight, shouts of “Merdeka” verberated throughout the whole area. After that, Shamsul Iskandar read out A. Samad Said’s poem “Janji Demokrasi”. A few more rounds of chanting, some greetings, then, we were asked to disperse peacefully. 

Away we went, smiling happily and laughing. A good and productive outing, I thought. 

While celebrating “Hari Merdeka”, I cannot help but think of our brothers and sisters in Sabah and Sarawak. About 15 years ago, I went to a neighbouring country for a holiday. I left thinking that they had a sinful government. How can I not but feel that way when I see boys as young as five or six years old jumping into the sea, performing a trick or two, just so we tourists would buy their wares for an equivalent of a ringgit or two. I remember relieving a boy of a bunch of bananas. They should be in school but here they were, risking their lives for just a ringgit or two. Everywhere I went, I saw their menfolk just hanging around their coffeeshops, smoking away with nothing better to do. (Cigarettes must be cheap there, I thought.) No school for the little ones and no jobs for what should be the breadwinners! And this was a country blessed with an abundance of natural resources. How come?

You know what was sadder? Some years later I went to Sarawak. I saw exactly the same situation there. It broke my heart to see how hard my brethren there had to slog in order to earn the same ringgit or two. Sarawak, the Land of the Hornbills, abundantly blessed, yet the majority live in poverty. How can this be? Only five per cent royalty from their oil? You got to be kidding me! Daylight robbery or what? They joined us on September 16, 1963 to be enslaved? Don’t think that was their intention at all! The best democracy in the world or aping colonial masters of old? Or worse? Come on, there’s more than enough for everyone. Why so greedy? I wonder how some people go to sleep at night? Really, this is more than sinful!

I believe our brethren in Sabah also suffer the same fate. Honestly, how could anyone in their right mind, enslave their own brethren? Even animals behave better!

“Merdeka” for whom? Definitely not for our brethren in Sabah and Sarawak. If we in the peninsula think we have it bad, they in east Malaysia have it a lot more worse! They toil their land day and night but do not get to taste the fruits of their labour. Is this justice? Is this equality? Do we ever see them as fellow Malaysians? Or do we think we are masters and they slaves? Come on, “Merdeka” for whom?

If the powers-that-be still refuse to grant Sabahans and Sarawakians their liberty and accord them the dignity they deserve, I don’t see why they should be with us and what’s there to celebrate, come the so-called “Malaysia Day”. 

My friends in Sabah and Sarawak, please educate your people and tell them, each and every one of you deserve a lot, lot better. Arise and claim back your birthright. Enough of slavery. You didn’t ask for this. It was forced onto you. Be brave and arise. Life can be a lot, lot better. You choose.

My fellow Malaysians, till the day each and every one of us enjoy the same liberty and dignity, we are not one. Till the day we are accorded the same privileges, we will always view each other with suspicion. Let’s work towards that day. We can do this if we all think, truly as one. And this must include our brethren from Sabah and Sarawak. Best we stop this charade and call them Malaysians when they cannot even begin to live the Malaysian dream. For so long, it has been only a nightmare for them. Enough, please, enough.

Hopefully, with the change that will come soon enough, we can usher in a new dawn. One, where we are truly all Malaysians. Work on it. Work hard. 

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/a-new-dawn-may-chee/

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.