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What Malaysians say about the illegal July 9 assembly

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Pic source: thenutgraph.com

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 Jun (Bernama) — The illegal assembly planned by several groups scheduled for July 9 has caused concern among members of the public on its adverse implications.

They were also worried that a third party might take advantage from the assembly for its own benefit.

Following are some of the public reactions on the proposed illegal assembly:

“The July 9 assembly was actually hatched by people who cannot wait to be in power and not because elections in the country are not clean. The action of these trouble-makers in trying to hold the illegal street demonstrations was to regain support they lost in the 2008 general election as the support momentum is now back in the Barisan Nasional’s favour.” (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak)

“The public should not get involved in the illegal assembly as it could affect public order. I am monitoring the situation…and furthermore, there have been hundreds of police reports lodged stating their objection to the planned demonstration.” (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar)

“Cuepacs urge civil servants not to be involved in the illegal assembly on July 9. All 1.2 million civil servants are bound to the “Aku Janji” signed when they joined the service as it prohibits them from joining such activities.” (The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Datuk Omar Osman)

“The group planning the illegal assembly has been manipulated by certain quarters to promote their own political agenda and not champion the people’s rights as they claim. Elections in Malaysia are conducted in a fair manner and this is evident
from the number of opposition elected representatives we have in Parliament and the state legislative assembles now.” (The Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party president Datuk R.S. Thanenthiran)

“The gatherings will only cause hardship to the people, and affect the income of small traders and taxi drivers who are members of the association.” (The Ex-Policeman Association of Malaysia acting president Datuk Yusuf Hamdain Diego)

“The gathering will not only affect the public but also the country’s image. Why do we need to have demonstrations? You should know that it is hard to maintain peace when several parties are demonstrating, especially if a clash is triggered between any of them, the public will be victimized.” (Gagasan Pendidikan Melayu Malaysia secretary general Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad)

“Malaysians should learn from the demonstrations carried out in several countries which affected their safety, peace and business.” (Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee)

“The gathering will not benefit anybody but in fact it will disrupt my earnings as a taxi driver and inconvenience others too.”
(Taxi driver, Samad Ismail, 43)

“The assembly needs to be called off because it is not only affecting traders’ income but also jeopardises public safety.” (Handbag and women accessories retailer, Rosyna Alias, 48)

“If the assembly proceeds, it will affect the daily routine of women and make us afraid to go out. We have to stay at home and be wary of our safety.” (Private worker Muliana Mohamad, 26) — BERNAMA

Posted by James Joshua on June 29th, 2011

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Sematan-Merapok trunk road upgrading to cost RM16 billion, Manyin

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KUCHING, June 27 (Bernama) — The upgrading of the state trunk road to a two-lane dual carriageway stretching for 1,080 km from Sematan, near here to Merapok, in Lawas is estimated to cost RM16 billion at the current rate.

Sarawak Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin said today, in view of the high cost of approximately RM13 million per km, the upgrading exercise would be carried out in phases.

“In the meantime, proposals have been made under the 10th Malaysia Plan’s second rolling plan (2012-2013) to provide some stretches of the roads from Sibu to Miri with overtaking lanes,” he said in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly sitting at Petra Jaya, here.

He said the proposed project was to reduce road accidents and to allow drivers, who were being held up by slow heavy vehicles, to overtake.

On the issue raised by Ling Sie Kong (DAP-Piasau) for the construction of a road by-passing the Brunei territories linking Miri/Long Lama/Limbang/Lawas/Merapok and to Sindumin in Sabah, he said, a study had been carried out on the proposal.

Manyin said the implementation of the proposed Sarawak-Sabah link road, which was about 275 km with an estimated cost of RM3.5 billion, would depend on the approval from the federal government and availability of funds.

However, the federal government had agreed to construct a 52 km-long road linking Miri to Marudi, which would be undertaken on a fast track basis by the Defence Ministry under the Jiwa Murni programme, he said.

He said the development of road infrastructure facilities would continue to focus on establishing an efficient and effective road network to facilitate the state’s economic transformation and integrate the rural population into the mainstream of development.

On the possibility of constructing a railway system in the state, he said, the state government was undertaking a study on railway development master plan for the central region.

He said the study was in its draft final stage and scheduled to complete in August next year. — BERNAMA

Posted by James Joshua on June 27th, 2011

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Malaysians should know who Datuk Ambiga is

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KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Jun (Bernama) — Analysts are asking Malays to know who it is that is asking them to take part in an illegal assembly on July 9.

They said that Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, the former Bar Council president planning to lead the demonstration, has a history of provoking Muslims.

They noted that she defended apostate Lina Joy, and as Bar Council president accepted a memorandum on the formation of an inter-faith commission, which made 14 demands that in effect questioned the position of Islam as the official religion and contradicted the constitution.

Despite objections from Muslims, she held a forum on an article in the constitution concerning syariah law.

Now, she is planning a demonstration in defiance of the law which she expects the Malays to join in droves, the analysts said.

Analyst Datin Paduka Prof Dr Ramlah Adam of  Universiti Teknologi Mara wonders how Malays can want to have anything to do with someone who is so openly against their interests.

“As a lawyer, Ambiga knows better than most that an  assembly  without a police permit is illegal. I don’t understand why she is planning to go ahead with it despite protests from various groups,” Ramlah said.

Other observers question the independence and motive of Ambiga, who is chairman of the Coalition for Free and Fair elections.
If elections in the country were not free, they said, how could the opposition have won six states in the last polls?

In any case, Ambiga could express any dissatisfaction that she might have with the Election Commission through the media instead of having an illegal assembly that could lead to clashes, they said.

Political observer Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling of the Sultan Idris Teaching University said the leaders of the planned assembly were fighting the cause of political parties which were themselves not clean.

“They should demonstrate as a political party rather than a non-governmental organisation. Then people will know what their real objectives are,” he said.

Zainal said their objectives had something to do with “the chaos in the opposition, in PKR which is not clean, in DAP which is autocratic and PAS which has abandoned its original struggle”.

He said the planned assembly was to hide the dirtiness of opposition parties trying to give Malaysia a bad image.

Zainal said the opposition parties were trying to create the kind of chaos they see in several countries which they hope to exploit to gain power. — BERNAMA

Posted by James Joshua on June 25th, 2011

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BERSIH 2.0 is the opposition’s ploy to maintain momentum in run-up to GE13

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) — The illegal planned demonstration for July 9 is seen by some political analysts as an attempt by the organisers to maintain the opposition’s momentum in the run-up to the coming general election.

Political science lecturer at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Dungun campus, Asri Salleh, said the organisers who included the opposition also wanted to gauge their popularity or to test the waters to see how much public support they had, besides inciting hatred towards the government.

“They can also be seen as deliberately challenging the existing laws. Their agenda is to hold a mass gathering. This can cause trouble in the capital city.

“The Election Commission (EC) has offered to discuss the issues raised. Why did they reject it? Why don’t they want to gather at a stadium or any other enclosed place as suggested by some quarters?” he said to Bernama.

Asri also asked whether the organisers of the proposed illegal demonstration could guarantee public safety since they had claimed that thousands would be participating.

“If 100,000 attend, what guarantee is there that the illegal rally will be under control? From the psychological point of view, in a mass gathering like this, there will be a few who will resort to mob behaviour. Politicians and psychologists know this.

“Moreover, this planned illegal assembly will be held in an open place…an event which might appear harmless at first could turn violent. We have seen this in other instances where trouble or rioting broke out in stadiums from a little altercation among a few individuals.

“It’ll be like a hornet attacking its enemy and the rest will follow,” he explained.

Asri said if this happened (trouble broke out), the police would definitely be blamed, while they had much earlier stated that the gathering had received no permit and therefore, would be illegal.

He said any group could be behind the provocation, whereby the situation could get out of control, more so when four groups – Datuk S. Ambiga’s group, Umno Youth, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) and the public would be holding rallies.

“It’s rather odd that Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is always chosen by organisers to hold a street demonstration. Why not Jalan Bukit Bintang or any other road? There must be an ulterior motive in choosing this location,” he said.

Asri said although constitutionally, mass gatherings were allowed, the provision must be read with other clauses and articles (in the Constitution) so that security, businesses and the public’s daily routine would not be jeopardised.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s senior political science lecturer, Abdul Ghapa Harun, said the situation could be seen from two aspects – for and against the planned demonstration.

He said one group was of the opinion that it should be allowed as based on the Federal Constitution, they had the right to freedom of expression and to gather.

However, it should also not cause problems or inconvenience to others from the safety, economic and other aspects, he added.

“This planned gathering is said not to have been approved by the authorities, therefore the authorities should weigh the situation and think what should be done if the gathering happens or otherwise, to avoid trouble.”

However, Ghafa is inclined towards police taking stern measures as provided by the country’s laws to prevent the illegal gathering from taking place in order to maintain stability and harmony in the country. — BERNAMA

Posted by James Joshua on June 25th, 2011

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Dennis Ngau question use of funds raised by BMF for the Penan

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KUCHING, June 26 (Bernama) — A Sarawak backbencher today questioned the use of funds by the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) to help the Penan in the state.

Dennis Ngau (BN-Telang Usan) said facilities like schools, clinics and so forth were all provided by Barisan Nasional (BN) government in Penan settlements.

“Where have all the funds they have collected all this years for the so called victimized Penan go to?

“What has the organization done for the Penan, I don’t even see a single toilet built by them, let alone a clinic or school,” he said when debating the motion of thanks for to the Yang Dipertua Negeri’s aaddress the assembly sitting here.

Dennis also urged the opposition to stop making use of the Penan as tool to gain support or political mileage. — BERNAMA

Posted by James Joshua on June 24th, 2011

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