2011 July archive at Anwar Ibrahim

Archive for July, 2011

Jul

Helah Media Merekayasa Berita Akhirnya Terbungkam

By Anwar Ibrahim 12 Comments

Categories: Analisis, Antarabangsa, Anwar, Catatan, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Penerbitan, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program and Umno

Akhbar gagah News of the World yg mencecah 2.6 juta jualan harian akhirnya dibungkam! Ini berikutan pendedahan betapa media milik korporat media ulung dunia Rupert Murdoch terkait dengan skandal pemalsuan maklumat dalam satu kes pembunuhan ngeri di Britain.

Namun yang lebih memprihatinkan ialah helah dan pendekatan media milik Murdoch yang berhasil melonjakkan penjualan akbar dan khalayak tv melalui kaedah yang melanggar etika kewartanan, merekayasa berita malah sanggup terjerobos ketahap kewartawanan paling hina!

Dalam beberapa tweet saya tadi, saya merujuk rencana Carl Bernstein (masyhur dalam pembongkaran skandal Watergate Presiden R Nixon) dalam Newsweek “Murdoch’s Watergate”. Beliau menyanggah budaya berita Empayar Murdoch yang tampak angkuh dan mengganas. Pemerintah Inggeris, dunia kewartawanan tercegat dengan skandal terbaru ini. Ada kemungkinan siasatan akan dilanjutkan ke Amerika Syarikat.

Bayangkan seandainya wujud penyiasatan rapi, pemantaun etika, dan badan kehakiman bebas di Malaysia. Mampukah media Umno-Bn utamanya Utusan Malaysia dan TV3 terselamat?

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Jul

Dirempuh Land Rover Polis,Mat Sabu Selamat Jalani Pembedahan

By Anwar Ibrahim 12 Comments

Categories: Anwar, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program, Sidenotes and Umno

Malaysiakini

Timbalan Presiden PAS Mohamad Sabu selamat menjalani pembedahan membetulkan ligamen lututnya yang terkoyak akibat dirempuh kenderaan Land Rover polis dalam perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 Sabtu lalu.

Menurut isterinya Normah Alwi, suaminya menjalani pembedahan itu di Hospital Pakar KPJ Selangor di Shah Alam pada jam 3 petang hari ini.

NONE “Sekarang ini dia stabil, OK, sudah makan dan sedar,” katanya sambil menambah pembedahan itu mengambil masa kira-kira satu jam.

Ketika dihubungiMalaysiakini hari ini, Normah berkata, doktor memasukkan skru sepanjang 2.5 inci ke belakang pelipat lutut kanannya yang mengalami kecederaan. Continue reading ‘Dirempuh Land Rover Polis,Mat Sabu Selamat Jalani Pembedahan’

Jul

Siri Jelajah Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Ke Sabah

By Anwar Ibrahim 4 Comments

Categories: Aktiviti, Anwar, Demokrasi, Hebahan, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program and Sidenotes

Demi Rakyat
17 Julai 2011 (Ahad)

Program 1 – Tawau

3.00 – 4.00 ptg – Ceramah Perdana 1 – Demi Rakyat
Lokasi:- Restoran Sri Damai, Tawau

Penceramah:

1. YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
2. YB Tien Chua
3. YBhg Datuk Kalakau Untol
4. YBhg Ahmad Tamrin Haji Jaini
5. Ybhg Dato’ Kong Hong Ming

Program 2 – Semporna

– 6.30 ptg – Ceramah Perdana 2. – Demi Rakyat

Lokasi:- Rumah En. Tahir Ariffin, Jalan Pinggir Bakau, Semporna

Penceramah:
YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
YB Tien Chua
Ybhg Datuk Kalakau Untol
Ybhg Datu Mustafa Hj Tambuyong
Ybhg Datuk James Ghani

Jul

The Prime Minister Must Stand By His Words And Release The EO 6 Immediately

By Anwar Ibrahim 11 Comments

Categories: Anwar, Demokrasi, Hebahan, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Mahkamah, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Politik and Umno

PRESS STATEMENT: WILLIAM LEONG JEE KEEN 15TH JULY 2011
THE PRIME MINISTER MUST STAND BY HIS WORDS
AND RELEASE THE EO 6 IMMEDIATELY

I call on the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak to immediately release the EO 6:-

1) Dr Jeyakumar Michael Devaraj Member of Parliament for Sungai Siput;
2) M Saraswathy Deputy Chairperson of Parti Sosialis Malaysia;
3) Choo Chon Kai Committee Member;
4) M Sukumaran Committee Member;
5) A Letchumanan Sungai Siput Branch Secretary;
6) Sarat Babu Youth Leader.

The police detained the EO 6 to deter the public from attending the Bersih 2.0 Rally. If the police have evidence the EO 6 committed a crime then the police should charge them and prove their case in a court of law. There is no justification for their detention. It is totally unwarranted and violates the universal principles of human rights.

I ask the Prime Minister to stand by the pledges that he made:-

a) To all Malaysians in his maiden speech on 3rd April 2009 when 13 ISA detainees were released and he pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of the ISA;

b) To Malaysian youth on 27th August 2010 at the Barisan Nasional Youth Lab programme when he said that the days of “scare politics” or using the ISA to wield power and show that one has full control were done;

c) To the International Community in his maiden speech on 27th September 2010 at the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly where he urged all nations to embark on a “Global Movement of Moderates”, to respect human rights and international humanitarian law;
d) To Malaysian and African leaders on 19th June 2011 at the Langkawi International Dialogue to practice transparency, accountability, integrity and to show strong values of good governance; and

e) To the United Nations that Malaysia as a Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, is committed and pledged to cooperate, promote, support and protect human rights.

I ask the Prime Minister to stop using “scare politics” and to stop using the Emergency Ordinance and ISA. The Prime Minister must show he dares to practice what he preaches by releasing the EO 6 immediately. Otherwise it will confirm that what he practices he dare not preach. For the dignity and credibility of all Malaysians, I call on the Prime Minister to live up to his own words.

William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament for Selayang

Jul

Izinkan Kami Junjung Langit Dengan Bebas

By Anwar Ibrahim 0 Comments

Categories: Agenda Baru, Aktiviti, Analisis, Anwar, Catatan, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Mahasiswa, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Penerbitan, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program, Sidenotes and Umno

Malaysiakini

Edwin Michael

Pembentukan jati diri sesebuah negara bangsa bukannya satu proses yang mudah lebih-lebih lagi melibatkan negara ini yang merangkumi kepelbagaian etnik dan budaya.

Menurut Budayawan A Aziz Derawan yang dipetik daripada Berita Harian bertarikh 28/04/2011, menjelaskan betapa kehidupan berbangsa itu ditunjukkan sifat jati diri menerusi persamaan lambang, institusi nasional, perundangan, nilai kebangsaan yang dikongsi bersama, kesetiaan politik dan rasa keyakinan diri sebagai satu bangsa.

Menurutnya lagi, elemen nilai akhlak, moral, etika yang kukuh, demokratis, liberal bertoleransi dalam konteks penerimaan, adil dan saksama yang bermakna tidak semesti kesamarataan, progresif dan makmur, serta daya saing, daya tahan, tangkas dan dinamis.

Demokrasi dan Partisipasi Golongan Muda

Sistem politik sesebuah negara seharusnya menggalakkan golonga muda menyertai proses demokrasi dengan aktif.

Dalam konteks ini, penglibatan golongan muda dalam sistem politik berdemokrasi secara langsungnya melibatkan hak mereka sebagai rakyat Malaysia serta bentuk ruang yang diberikan untuk mengalakkan penglibatan mereka yang seterusnya mampu mempengaruhi keputusan yang dibuat oleh pemerintah atas dasar kepentingan masyarakat sivil.

Di Malaysia. partisipasi golongan muda dalam sistem berpolitik demokrasi masih terhad akibat dicengkam dengan pelbagai macam dasar dan undang-undang yang diimplementasikan oleh golongan pemerintah yang dalam erti kata tidak lain tidak bukan hanya semata-mata mahu untuk memastikan status-quo pemerintah tidak dicabar dalam apa cara sekali pun.

Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU) 1971 merupakan bukti tunjang bagaimana para pembuat keputusan gagal dalam mengisythiarkan hak berdemokrasi di kalangan golongan muda di peringkat akademik.

Inilah yang akhirnya dilihat sebagai membantutkan penglibatan golongan muda dalam membangunkan masyarakat sivil di negara ini.

Di satu pihak, Bersih 2.0 membuktikan bagaimana semangat golongan muda mewarnai perhimpunan tersebut yang pastinya merupakan satu fenomena yang unik dalam sistem demokrasi negara ini.

Ini kerana golongan muda ini tidak mewakili mana-mana parti politik tetapi apa yang mereka mahukan ialah partisipasi mereka dalam sistem demokrasi di negara ini diiktiraf oleh pemerintah.

Menariknya, pemerintah selalunya hanya mendekati golongan muda secara agresif untuk mendapatkan undi semata-mata tetapi tidak pernah memberikan ruang untuk mereka berpolitik secara demokratik.

Bagi golongan muda ini, apa yang mereka mahukan ialah sebuah sistem kerajaan dengan sebuah pemerintah yang bukannya bersifat kebal dan kejam sebaliknya bertindak sebagai satu bentuk komuniti yang bukan sahaja mendengar luahan rakyat semata-mata tetapi mengambil berat akan isu tersebut. Continue reading ‘Izinkan Kami Junjung Langit Dengan Bebas’

Jul

Forever Tarnished

By Anwar Ibrahim 24 Comments

Categories: Aktiviti, Antarabangsa, Anwar, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Mahasiswa, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Penerbitan, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program and Umno

Sarawak Report

demo17

When he allowed his forces to brutally attack thousands of peaceful marchers, who were calling for an end to corrupt practices over the weekend, Najib must surely have taken into account the effect on his international image?

Millions of dollars worth of expensive PR, positioned press and TV interviews have been swept aside by scenes that show exactly how BN have kept power in Malaysia for over 50 years, achieving their current status as one of the world’s longest-lasting regimes.

Genuine democratic governments do not attack peaceful marchers with acid-laced water cannon and tear gas. They do not unleash police charges; firing rubber bullets and lashing out with whips and truncheons. Their forces do not push peaceful women and hurl insults at them or arrest people for wearing yellow T-shirts.

Najib was determined to show his people that he is boss and that he does not appreciate complaints about rigged elections. However, in the process he also showed the rest of the world that he is just another nasty dictator like the Middle Eastern fellows, who are currently being shown the door by their own people and like Marcos and Suharto, who have already been chucked out by Malaysia’s neighbouring powers of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Embarrassing guest

It has made Najib an embarrassing guest for the British PM and Queen this week. Their briefing teams will have made them well aware of the issues – that BN have been in power for a very suspiciously long time and that people who have been criticising them have ended up beaten in the street and locked in jail without charge and without access to their lawyers under so-called Emergency Orders.

Morever, that in Malaysia people are being hauled into detention for wearing the colour yellow and people making polite requests to end electoral corruption are being treated as enemies of the state.

It was bad enough having Rupert Murdoch turn up in the middle of the biggest scandal in years over media corruption, but entertaining Najib must have been even more uncomfortable.

Flash demos

And, as our pictures above show, Malaysian sympathisers have been making sure throughout the week that Najib’s British hosts are constantly reminded of the real nature of their guest with ‘flash demos’ outside his various key engagements.

Today they were outside Downing Street, where Najib was due to have lunch with the UK PM, giving the crowds of tourists and passers by a thought-provoking insight into the real Malaysia away from the holiday advertisements.

UK police not so cooperative for BN

These hard-core demonstrators say they are not going away easily and infuriatingly for BN, the UK police have refused to do anything to budge them (see our photographs of a nice little chat they had with them outside Downing Street).

In fact the local Westminster Police have readily acknowledged to the demonstrators that they are being constantly pestered by the Malaysian High Commission, who have been asking for information about where protests are due to be held and for details about the organisers. The Malaysians have also tried to demand that the British police ban the protests form taking place!

However, the UK is a free country and the police have politely told the Najib’s people that they are not prepared to harrass citizens or remove their freedom of expression in order to spare the blushes of a visiting ‘dignatory’, who has just spent the past weekend harming and injuring people in his own country.

The demonstrations have passed peacefully in London and a result and there will be more during the remainder of Najib’s visit.

Jul

Siri Jelajah Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke Sarawak

By Anwar Ibrahim 0 Comments

Categories: Agenda Baru, Aktiviti, Anwar, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pejabat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program, Sidenotes and Umno

DEMI RAKYAT
16 Julai 2011 (Sabtu)

Program 1 – Mambong

5.00 – 6.00 ptg – High-Tea Bersama Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Lokasi:- Ted Shin Seafood Restaurant, Siburan (Kucing – Serian Road)

Program 2 – Stampin

7.00 – 9.00 mlm – Y@Saturday With Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Lokasi :- Grand Continental Hotel, Kucing

Program 3 – Petra Jaya

9.30 – 12.00 mlm – Sambutan Menjelang Ramadhan Bersama Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Lokasi:- Rumah Dato’ Hafsah Harun, Jalan Gita, Matang, Kucing

Jul

Samad Said: Najib ‘Memang Kejamlah’

By Anwar Ibrahim 25 Comments

Categories: Analisis, Anwar, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program and Umno

Malaysiakini

Sasterawan Negara Datuk A Samad Said menyifatkan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sebagai perdana menteri yang “memang kejam” berbanding dengan beberapa perdana menteri sebelum ini.

“Kalau tengok (perdana menteri) yang sudah-sudah itu, (Najib) memang kejamlah,” katanya ketika diminta membandingkan pentadbiran Najib dan dua penyandang sebelumnya – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

NONE Menceritakan kembali “kebengisan” polis dalam menangani perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 Sabtu lalu, A Samad (kiri) mendakwa pentadbiran Najib sekarang mengarah kepada menjadikan Malaysia negara kuku besi.

Ketika diwawancaraMalaysiakini di sebuah restoran di Bangsar hari ini, A Samad berkata, perkara itu boleh dilihat melalui rakaman video dan gambar di internet yang mana kerajaan “berantakan dengan orang awam”.

“Youtube siarkan, kita boleh lihat semua dan (dia) tak boleh tipu. Cuma, malangnya dalam akhbar-akhbar (dan) media utama, sudah tentu kamu nampak berat sebelah,” katanya yang mesra dengan panggilan Pak Samad.

“Tapi kalau (di) Youtube, tak boleh tipu. Kamu kata tidak jentik-jentik, (itu) pun nampak (di Youtube). Kamu kata tidak ada orang yang dipijak, (tetapi ada) yang ditendang berulang kali,” katanya.

Kepimpinan ‘bangsawan’

Sehubungan itu, A Samad mendesak Najib meletakkan jawatan, selaras dengan kempen sama di Facebook yang kini sudah digemari hampir 200,000 orang.

“Ya, saya mahu (beliau letak jawatan). Saya ikut (perkembangannya) dalam Facebook, amat bagus (kempen itu). Kalau di Jepun, orang lain buat salah pun, menteri itu tunduk depan orang.

NONE “Ada perdana menteri Jepun tidak sampai satu penggal pun, (letak jawatan). Tapi di sini tentu, orang sangat mengidam kuasa,” katanya sambil menambah kerajaan tidak lagi memerintah “dengan sukaan umum”.

Bagaimanapun, ditanya tentang perdana menteri mana yang yang paling bagus, A Samad tidak menjawabnya secara langsung, sebaliknya menyebut tentang penguasaan “bangsawan” bagi jawatan itu.

Katanya, sepanjang lebih 50 tahun kemerdekaan, kecuali Dr Mahathir, kesemua perdana menteri disandang oleh golongan itu yang disifatkannya “hidup mudah”.

“Laporan-laporan yang sampai ke telinga (mereka) itu, semuanya yang cantik sahaja. Jadi, mereka tidak merasakan (kesusahan rakyat).

“Saya merasakan sudah waktunya, kepimpinan harus datang dari bawah, bukan dari atas,” tegasnya lagi.

Ditanya berapa lama BN boleh bertahan untuk memerintah negara ini, sasterawan yang membiasakan dirinya dengan panggilan “bapak” berkata beliau sukar untuk meramalkannya.

“Tetapi bapak harapkan dalam pilihan raya akan datang, mereka undur ataupun jatuh. Itu harapan saya,” katanya.

Jul

Doctors: We’ll Produce More Evidence If Challenged

By Anwar Ibrahim 12 Comments

Categories: Anwar, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program and Sidenotes

Malaysiakini

The doctors who witnessed the police attack on Tung Shin Hospital are ready to provide further evidence if the statement they issued yesterday is rebutted by the government.

However, they are not prepared to reveal any further detail on their account of the incident until their statement is challenged by the authorities, their spokeperson Dr Sheikh Johari Bux said today.

NONE “If that (denial) arises, we will discuss as a group and take the neccesary steps required,” said Sheikh Johari, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.

“If not, we would rather leave the matter at that,” he said, adding that they would only respond, if needed, at the “right time” and in the presence of a lawyer. Continue reading ‘Doctors: We’ll Produce More Evidence If Challenged’

Jul

Bersih: Suhakam Adakan Siasatan Awam Siasat Keganasan Polis

By Anwar Ibrahim 2 Comments

Categories: Aktiviti, Anwar, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program and Sidenotes

KeadilanDaily

Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) mengumumkan untuk mengadakan siasatan awam berhubung keganasan polis sewaktu perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 Sabtu lalu.

Pesuruhjaya Suhakam Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee berkata orang ramai dan pihak berkuasa akan dipanggil memberi keterangan masing-masing ketika inkuiri yang dijangka diadakan bulan depan.

Bagaimanapun, ia sedang mengkaji bidang rujukan siasatan tersebut yang akan diumumkan kemudian.

Khaw berkata Suhakam yang turut menghantar pasukan pemantaunya ketika perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 juga akan bergantung pada maklumat yang dikumpulkan.

Jul

Doa Buat Saudara Fayyadh, Pengiring Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim

By Anwar Ibrahim 15 Comments

Categories: Anwar, Catatan, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pilihanraya, Politik and Program

Nota Admin

Saudara Fayyadh Afiq Albakqry Pengiring Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim telah selamat menjalani pembedahan pada 11 Julai 2011 di Hospital Pantai.

Pembedahan yang memakan masa 5 jam itu dilakukan untuk meletakkan Plat Titanium bagi menggantikan tulang pipi kirinya yang pecah akibat tembakkan peluru gas pemedih mata .

Peluru tersebut telah dilepaskan oleh pihak Polis sewaktu beliau mengiringi Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim bersama orang ramai di terowong KL Sentral menuju ke Stadium Merdeka untuk menyertai Perhimpunan Aman Bersih 2.0 pada 9 Julai 2011.Jika tidak kerana kecekapan dan keberanian beliau,peluru tersebut sudah pasti mengenai tepat pada Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Keadaan beliau kini stabil namun masih ditahan di Wad untuk pemerhatian lanjut.Marilah kita semua berdoa kepada Allah SWT agar Saudara Fayyadh sembuh dan kembali menggalas cabaran dalam perjuangan KEADILAN

Jul

Malaysia’s Najib Must Abandon The Mubarak Model

By Anwar Ibrahim 7 Comments

Categories: Analisis, Antarabangsa, Anwar, Demokrasi, Isu Semasa, KeADILan, Malaysia, Media, Pakatan Rakyat, Parlimen, Pilihanraya, Politik, Program and Umno

Guardian.co.uk

By Simon Tisdall

As Najib comes touting for UK trade, Cameron has a chance to show him strong-arm tactics against protesters are unacceptable

It is not in the same league as Arab spring uprisings in Egypt and elsewhere. But Malaysia’s fancifully named “hibiscus revolution” has potential, at least, to inflict a winter of discontent on the gormless government of prime minister Najib Razak. That’s something David Cameron should bear in mind when Najib comes touting for business in Downing Street on Thursday. Bilateral trade and investment is important. Respect for basic human rights more so.

Najib reacted with characteristic heavy-handedness when tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur at the weekend demanding “reformasi” – democratic reform – and an end to a defective electoral system that guarantees Najib’s party representing the Malay majority, Umno, stays in power indefinitely. About 1,700 people were arrested and many injured as police used baton charges, watercannon and teargas to break up peaceful protests.

In an echo of Britain’s Ian Tomlinson affair, one protester, identified as Baharuddin Ahmad, 59, collapsed and later died near the Petronas Towers in central Kuala Lumpur while fleeing teargas. Amnesty International said police had beaten many demonstrators. It demanded an investigation into claims they failed to provide prompt assistance to Baharuddin and that there was a 90-minute delay before an ambulance arrived.

“Prime minister Najib’s government rode roughshod over thousands of Malaysians exercising their right to peaceful protest,” Amnesty said. “This violent repression … flies in the face of international human rights standards and cannot be allowed to continue. David Cameron should tell prime minister Najib that these human rights violations are unacceptable.”

The protests, the product of rising tensions linked to mooted early elections, spending cuts and political upheavals in neighbouring Thailand and Singapore, echo events across the Muslim world. Many of the participants were reportedly younger-generation Malaysians kicking back against establishment cronyism, curbs on public assembly and debate, and state-imposed censorship considered draconian even by regional standards.

Within hours of the violence, a Facebook petition demanding Najib resign was attracting 300 “likes” per minute, the (Singapore-based) Straits Times reported. As of this morning, more than 172,000 people had expressed support. “I don’t understand why the harshness, the beatings,” posted Sofie Muhammad. “The crowd didn’t even throw stones at the shops. Why is the government afraid? All we want is free elections.” Videos were also recorded by protesters.

Marimuthu Manogaran of the Democratic Action party, representing the ethnic Chinese minority, said many of the protesters were “first timers”. “Young people [are] coming out there to demand their rights … and I think that is a good sign for Malaysia,” he told Luke Hunt of the Diplomat.

Another report, denied by police, said a hospital where protesters had taken refuge was attacked by security forces – an incident akin to events in Bahrain earlier this year. Appalled by the behaviour of police and federal reserve unit special forces, Bersih 2.0, the opposition “coalition for clean and fair elections”, called for a royal commission of inquiry and vowed to continue its reformasi campaign, come what may.

Anwar Ibrahim, the veteran opposition leader endlessly persecuted by successive governments on trumped-up sodomy charges (he is due in court again next month), was among those injured. He said later the government had lost the people’s confidence and more street protests were inevitable. “We will have to pursue free elections inside and outside of parliament,” he warned.

Far from admitting fault, Najib has threatened more strong-arm tactics if the demos continue. “Don’t doubt our strength. If we want to create chaos, we can. Umno has 3 million members. If we gather 1 million members, it is more than enough. We can conquer Kuala Lumpur,” he said. Such threats seem ill-advised. When elected in 2009, Najib promised to bridge Malaysia’s political, ethnic and religious divisions. Now he’s in danger of exacerbating them, as his old boss, Malaysia’s founding father Mahathir Mohammed, suggested in a recent interview.

Malaysia is not on the verge of revolution, hibiscus-coloured or otherwise. Relatively speaking, it is more stable, homogenous and prosperous than other Muslim or Arab countries currently experiencing popular turmoil. But it is not politically immune to the international zeitgeist, any more than its economy is immune to global trends. This latter consideration explains why Najib is in London. And it gives Cameron and other European leaders leverage should they choose to use it.

Malaysians need only look north to see how Thai voters defied the political-military establishment and voted in a leader of their choice. When Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi speaks of the twin imperatives of freedom and democracy, she speaks for an entire region. And if Malaysians look south to Singapore or east to Hong Kong, they see entrenched ruling elites under determined challenge by activists emboldened by the spirit of change.

Malaysia’s leaders should wake up and smell the coffee. Led intelligently and openly, Malaysia could be a paradigm for south-east Asia. Led repressively, it could fall apart. Najib must get on the right side of history. The Mubarak model doesn’t work.