Bersih says will pursue EC chief, deputy’s resignations

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Bersih will focus on removing the current Election Commission (EC) leadership, claiming that the government must “listen to the people” after tens of thousands rallied for free and fair elections yesterday. The electoral reforms movement said today it will “reconsider its position” against holding another rally if the government fails…

Excessive Force Used to Disperse Peaceful Protests – Human Rights Watch

The use of water cannons and teargas against peaceful protesters shows the Malaysian police were out of control, not the demonstrators. The government should stop patting itself on the back and promptly investigate why unnecessary force was used and punish those responsible. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director (Bangkok) – The Malaysian government should impartially investigate…

Bersih 3.0 – The Day I Lost Respect For The Government

Pepper Lim describes his first time at a Bersih rally to his little daughter and what he thinks of the government afterwards. … We walked down this street and that as a large group. Marshals ensured we walked towards the corrected direction. It seemed to me that the crowd was trying to make its way…

‘Maggi mee’ and ‘roti bun’ while kids of BN leaders are millionaires in their 20s

The on-going PTPTN issue is really very telling. In all probability it will be like the proverbial fourth stone that broke the camel’s back for BN. Just take cognizance of the Tun Dr Mahathir’s statement. He says that it was saudara Anwar Ibrahim who put the education loan system in place when DSAI was the…

Police response during BERSIH 3.0 rally disproportionate and excessive

Press Release: Police response during BERSIH 3.0 rally disproportionate and excessive The Malaysian Bar is appalled at the abuse of the legal process and grotesque use of force by the police in connection with the BERSIH 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, 28 April 2012. The crowds that had gathered for the BERSIH 3.0 rally…

Voices in a BERSIH night

COMMENT It was the night before the Bersih 3.0 storm and I was wandering around Dataran Merdeka attempting to discover (like the many other demonstrations I had attended all these years before) exactly why some Malaysians felt compelled to take their concerns to the streets. The area was filled with Khairy Jamaluddin’s “anomalies”. And by…

Malaysian Police Fire Tear Gas on Protesters – WSJ

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Police fired tear gas and chemical-laced water at thousands of protesters demonstrating for cleaner elections, potentially undermining Prime Minister Najib Razak’s efforts to present himself as a political reformer with elections months away. Riot police took action on Saturday when some of the tens of thousands of demonstrators began encroaching on the historic…

“Kerajaan Zalim!”

… At about 1.40pm, the crowd began to move forward led by Ambiga and other leaders of Bersih and we were joined by others along the way. From my vantage point, I could see that there were plenty of people all the way from Pudu Sentral up to the junction of Tun Perak/Tuanku Abdul Rahman…

Behind the Barbed-Wire Barricades – Rantings byMM

… I got to the front of the barrier where someone had put up a sign that said ‘Welcome to Tel Aviv’. It felt very accurate. The police recognised me and nodded. I asked them, “What is this?” pointing at the razor wire, which has blades on them which can seriously cut you if you…

Clashes with protesters could delay national polls

Police fired tear gas and water cannon in clashes with thousands of protesters demanding electoral reforms today, raising the risk of a political backlash that could delay national polls which had been expected as early as June. Riot police reacted after some protesters among the crowd of at least 25,000 tried to break through barriers,…