Harakah

Tinjauan Asia Sentinel terhadap syarikat bernama Terasasi di Hong Kong, yang pengarahnya ialah Abdul Razak Baginda dan ayahnya Abdul Mulim Baginda telah mendapati bahawa syarikat itu adalah syarikat misteri yang tidak diketahui punca perniagaannya.

Terasasi, yang disenaraikan antara 142 syarikat di satu bangunan pada 3 Lockhart Road di Wan Chai Hong Kong cuma disenaraikan sebagai sebuah syarikat tempatan.

Terdahulu Asia Sentinel mendedahkan bahawa syarikat kontroversi tersebut telah digunakan untuk menerima duit komisyen sebanyak Euro 36 juta (RM144 juta) daripada pembelian kapal selam Scorpene daripada sebuah syarikat pertahanan Thales International yang berpusat di Perancis, yang lebih dikenali sebagai Thint Asia.

Wang tersebut, dakwa Asia Sentinel telah disalurkan ke akaun milik perdana menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Laman web tersebut berkata penyaluran dan pengendalian wang haram di Hong Kong adalah satu jenayah serius, dan mempercayai bahawa pihak berkuasa di Hong Kong sedang menyiasat dakwaan yang ditimbulkan terhadap Terasasi.

Laporan yang ditulis oleh John Berthelsen, Editor Eksekutif akhbar The Standard di Hong Kong turut mendapat perhatian media Hong Kong, Ming Pao.

Menurut Merdeka Review, Ming Pao telah melaporkan pada 7 April 2012, bahawa sebuah syarikat Hong Kong diheret dalam kes ini, di mana sebuah syarikat Perancis disyaki menyogok Najib Razak, Perdana Menteri Malaysia sekarang, yang menyandang jawatan Menteri Pertahanan ketika kes ini berlaku.

Hasil daripada usaha Suaram, skandal kes pembelian kapal selam Scorpene kini sedang didengar di mahkamah Perancis.

Temuramah Najib

Majistret Perancis Roger Le Loire dan Serge Tournaire yang dilantik ke Tribunal Paris Grande de Instance telah memberitahu hasrat mereka untuk menemuramah Najib dan orang kanannya satu ketika dulu Razak Baginda.

“Bagaimanapun peluang untuk pihak berkuasa Perancis untuk menerumah perdana menteri daripada sebuah negara berdaulat atas kes rasuah adalah sangat tipis, walaupun persoalan ini akan merumitkan pelan Najib untuk melawat Eropah pada masa depan,” tulis John, sambil menambah beliau tidak pasti samada pihak berkuasa Perancis sudah meminta bantuan daripada Hong Kong untuk membantu siasatan mereka.

Selain orang kanan Najib, Razak Baginda juga dinamakan sebagai kekasih kepada Altantuya Shariibu yang dibunuh kejam di Shah Alam pada 2006 setelah dikatakan datang menuntut komisyen daripada penjualan kapal selam yang dijanjikan kepadanya.

Di satu sidang Dewan Rakyat, telah didedahkan bahawa syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd telah menerima sebanyak Euro 114 juta (RM457 juta) sebagai komisyen pembelian kapal selam daripada satu anak syarikat Thales dan DCN, Armaris.

Perimeker pada masa itu adalah satu syarikat yang dimiliki KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd yang dimiliki oleh Razak Baginda dan isterinya Mazalinda.
Perimekar kini dimiliki 20 peratus setiap satu oleh LTAT and Boustead Holdings.

Menurut laporan Agence France Press (AFP), siasatan akan menjurus kepada tiga kontrak untuk kapal selam bernilai € 1.2 bilion, yang telah ditandatangani pada 5 Jun, 2002.

Berdasarkan dokumen, kontrak tersebut mempunyai dua bahagian. Menurut dokumen yang dikaji, kontrak yang dimeterai mempunyai dua komponen:

Pertama ialah penjualan dua kapal selam yang dibina oleh DCNS pembinaan kapal tentera laut Perancis dan Izar firma pembinaan kapal Sepanyol, € 920 juta;

Dan kedua ialah mengenai penghantaran “sokongan logistik” dari sebuah syarikat Malaysia, Perimekar Bhd , bernilai € 114 juta, untuk melatih kumpulan pertama anggota TLDM seramai 200 orang.

Menurut AFP, perjanjian tersebut melibatkan komisyen RM457 juta yang dibayar ke Perimekar, kontrak C5 untuk bisnes kejuruteraan yang dimeterai pada Ogos 2000 antara DCNI, sebuah anak syarikat DCN dan Thales International Asia bernilai Euro 30 juta (RM132 juta).

Yang ketiga, ialah penjanjian rundingan yang ditandatangani pada Oktober 2000 antara Thint Asia dan Terasasi.

Menurut John, penyiasat Perancis sedang juga menyiasat satu invois yang dikeluarkan oleh Terasasi pada Ogos 2004 bernilai Euro 359,450 (RM1.44 juta) yang dihantar ke Thint Asia.

“Bagi penyiasat, perkara ini seolah-olah… menunjukkan bayaran yang dibuat ke Terasasi pada akhirnya tiba di tangan Najib, menteri pertahanan ketika itu atau Razak Baginda,” tambahnya.

Para penyiasat Perancis turut berkata Terasasi menerima bayaran daripada Thint Asia, termasuk satu bayaran berjumlah Euro 360000 (RM1.44 juta) yang disertakan dengan nota, “Razak hendakkan bayaran ini dibuat segera.”

“Tiada indikasi Razak mana yang dirujuk, Najib Razak atau Razak Baginda,” tulis beliau.

Dokumen di mahkahmah Perancis telah mendedahkan bahawa jumlah wang yang disalurkan daripada Thint Asia ke Terasasi ialah sebanyak Euro 3 juta (RM12 juta) ketika Terasasi masih di Malaysia dan Euro 33 juta (RM132 juta) tatkala ia menjadi syarikat di Hong Kong.

Klik Disini Untuk Baca Laporan Penuh : International Fact-Finding Mission April 2012

Harakah

KUALA LUMPUR: Di sebalik keganasan yang berlaku, satu fakta yang tidak boleh dilupakan untuk Bersih 3.0 ialah 250,000 rakyat telah berani tampil untuk menuntut pilihanraya yang adil dan bebas, kata Pengerusi bersama Bersih 2.0 Datuk Ambiga Sreevenasan.

“Mereka adalah yang muda dan tua – rakyat Malaysia dari pelbagai latar belakang. Mereka datang daripada Lembah Klang, ada juga yang datang daripada Sabah dan Sarawak.

“Mereka hadir walaupun diberi amaran oleh kerajaan, pengangkutan yang serba kurang dan sekatan jalan raya untuk menghalang mereka,” kata Ambiga dalam satu kenyataan.

Selain itu, katanya beribu orang turut berhimpun di seluruh negara dan lebih daripada 80 bandar di seluruh dunia.

“Ini adalah gambaran benar rakyat Malaysia. Mereka adalah gambaran niat dan cita-cita rakyat Malaysia. Tiada manipulasi politik, penyelewengan fakta oleh media perdana atau dakwaan bahawa himpunan tersebut telah dirampas (hijack) akan mengubah hakikat tersebut. Ahli politik daripada kedua-dua belah boleh tidak mengendahkan hakikat ini atas risiko sendiri,” tambah beliau.

Di dalam demokrasi yang lebih maju di mana hak untuk berhimpun secara aman dihormati, kata Ambiga, tanggungjawab menjaga keamanan dan keselamatan adalah terletak di bahu penganjur dan penguatkuasa.

“Namun (di Bersih 3.0), pihak penguatkuasa meletakkan tanggungjawab ini sepenuhnya pada Bersih 2.0. Kita telah melaksanakan tanggungjawab ini sebaik mungkin sehinggalah polis menembak gas pemedih mata.

“Apabila itu berlaku, tanggungjawab itu beralih kepada polis untuk mengawal situasi yang mereka mulakan. Tanggungjawab itu adalah pada mereka. Ia adalah fakta segala keganasan hanya berlaku selepas gas pemedih mata ditembak,” kata Ambiga.

Unit Amal PAS

 
Ambiga turut memuji Unit Amal PAS dan agensi keselamatan lain atas kejayaan mereka untuk mengawal himpunan. Beliau turut memuji disiplin dan maruah rakyat yang ditunjukkan ketika perhimpunan.

“Saya turut menyatakan ada pihak polis yang telah melaksanakan tugas dengan berhati-hati dan amanah. Tapi ada sebilangan yang mendapat memo berlainan daripada pihak atasan. Mereka adalah kejam dan bertindak seperti samseng melakukan kecederaan maksimum pada para hadirin yang sudahpun berundur.

“Terdapat juga beberapa ketika yang mereka sengaja memprovokasi rakyat. Mereka bertindak tanpa undang-undang,” kata Ambiga.

Walaupun media perdana cuba menayangkan sebaliknya, Ambiga berkata kebenaran akan muncul kerana segala bukti akan timbul.

“Dan Suhakam mesti mengadakan satu inkuiri awam untuk menyiasat keganasan yang paling teruk dilakukan pihak berkuasa terhadap rakyat Malaysia,” kata beliau.

Ambiga turut menyenaraikan beberapa persoalan untuk dijawab pihak berkuasa.

1.     Siapa yang memberikan arahan untuk bertindak keras terhadap peserta demo sebegitu rupa?

2.     Siapakah pegawai dalam baju Bersih di dalam himpunan?

3.     Siapakah mereka yang berbaju biru tanpa nombor identiti dan nama pada uniform?

4.     Adakah benar ramai orang yang dibawa masuk ke himpunan untuk menimbulkan kekacauan. Jika benar, siapa bawa mereka?

5.     Bagaimana anda menerangkan sikap polis yang berbeza sebelum dan selepas gas pemedih mata dilepaskan. Apakah arahan yang diberi?

6.     Mengapakah kerajaan melalui media perdana tidak sanggup untuk memberikan gambaran menyeluruh insiden?

“Jika Bersih 2.0 perlu menjawab banyak persoalan, maka pihak kerajaan juga mempunyai banyak soalan yang perlu dijawab,” tegas Ambiga.

Membalas tuduhan perdana menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak bahawa Bersih 2.0 telah mungkir janji dalam memastikan perhimpunan awam, Ambiga menjawab tidak.

“Hari itu, polis yang ditugaskan dengan amanah untuk menjaga kita, mengkhianati kita dan kepercayaan yang diberikan oleh rakyat Malaysia yang sukakan keamanan,” tegas beliau.

Mengenai insiden benteng Dataran Merdeka diceroboh, Ambiga berkata walaupun Bersih 2.0 melihat perintah mahkamah tersebut tidak sah, tapi gabungan menuntut pilihanraya bersih dan adil telah menyatakan dengan jelas bahawa mereka tidak akan melepasi benteng polis Dataran Merdeka.

“Terlalu banyak perkara yang berlaku di insiden tersebut… kita akan memberikan komen selepas semua bukti dikemukakan,” kata beliau.

Isnin lali, Ketua umum PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Azmin Ali menafikan tuduhan bahawa mereka memberikan isyarat kepada peserta demo untuk menceroboh benteng Dataran Merdeka.

Malaysia Chronicle

It looks like Umno is finalizing its trap to nail Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Azmin Ali for the enormously successful Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections.

PKR Rasah division leader Thanggam Raju, who is now in the police lockup at the Balai Polis Jinjang, is due to be remanded. No details are available yet.

Thanggam is the ‘Indian man’ that Umno bloggers have accused of opening the barricade gates after receiving instructions from Azmin and Anwar.

“They are linking him with the breaking of the barricade and using him to get to Azmin,” PKR vice president N Surendran told Malaysia Chronicle.

“Thanggam’s arrest is a propaganda move by the BN to portray Pakatan Rakyat as the agressors at the Bersih 3.0 rally. I expect they may be more such unlawful propaganda arrests.

But why haven’t the police been made accountable and punished?

If true, then this is the umpteenth time Prime Minister Najib Razak and his administration have resorted to unscrupulous and strong-arm tactics to blame the Pakatan.

After all, whoever it was who opened the barricade’s gate, it still does not absolve the police from their excessive, dangerous and overly brutal response.

In the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally of 2011, there was a similar pattern of denial and obstruction. A classic case was the police firing tear gas into the grounds of the Tung Shin Hospital, but refusing to admit it.

MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, who also the Health minister, and Chua Soi Lek, the MCA president, were roped in to help in the charade to defend the police. Eventually, Liow was forced to apologize but the police were unpunished.

It looks like history is now repeating itself, with the drama and noise turned to the maximum to direct blame at Anwar and Azmin, while delecting attention that nearly 300,000 Malaysians had spoken up against Najib’s rule.

“Why has no policeman been arrested for the criminal attacks upon the public on April 28. Why no action on the arrests ad assaults of journalists. BN is acting like the Nazis,” said Surendran.

Making use of the press and City Hall

At their post-Bersih press conference held on Monday, Anwar and Azmin had condemned the police violence and rebutted accusations that they were the ones who gave the signal for the crowd to breach a police barricade.

One of the journalist present, however, stood up and said he heard Azmin say, “Dataran Merdeka…can enter..can enter”.

“Lies”, Azmin immediately refuted the allegation.

Some have called the current finger-pointing a ‘blame game’ but that might be a bit too naive.

During the height of the Datuk T sex DVD scandal against Anwar, it was found that top editors of the mainstream media were not only briefed about the scandal, but they had actually helped Najib’s media advisers concoct the conspiracy aimed to destroy Anwar’s credibility.

But the plot failed and Anwar and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition is now rated as being poised to wrest the federal government. As such, the likelihood is high that Najib has once again made full use of the mainstream media and its staff to pursue his political ambitions.

Indeed, just a day ago, Surendran revealed that Najib’s cousin – Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein – had called a meeting of top editors, waring them not to report on the police violence.

Nonetheless, Hisham’s order could not stop furious rally participants from bombarding You Tube and the Internet with thousands of photos and video clips that showed the police did really over-react. In many instances, the police were caught going after their quarry in groups of 7 to 8 – often versus only a solitary and unarmed victim.

Deflecting attention that 300,000 came to protest Najib’s rule

The press was also warned to downplay the size of the Bersih 3.0 turnout as this could affect voter confidence in Najib’s BN coalition, which is still trying to hold snap polls as early as possible. More than 250,000 people – i.e. hundreds of thousands – had come to the main rally centre in Dataran, five other states in the country, and 71 cities in 29 countries.

Yet, the national news agency reported only 25,000 had turned out, another news portal reported 50,000 while others conceded that ‘tens of thousands came’ which carries the implication that the turnout was less than 100,000.

In defending the police violence, Najib has insisted it was due to a group of overzealous participants breaking through a barricade that prompted the severe lash back. He accused Anwar, Azmin and PKR MP for Batu Tian Chua of giving the signal to the group and instigating the people to defy the police.

However, Najib was panned for his over-simplistic explanation that does not answer why then, was the violence not limited to that spot or section of the vast rally? There are news reports and hundreds of eye-witness that police had inexplicably chased participants for several kilometers all over Chinatown, creating some panic and confusion.

Najib was also ridiculed for his explanation that City Hall had refused to allow the rally to be held in the Dataran because it feared a long-term Occupy Wall Street-type of situation. But throughout the weeks of negotiation with Bersih’s Ambiga Sreenevasan and Samad Said, not once did Najib or City Hall mention this reason. Moreover, if long-term occupation was part of the Bersih 3.0 plan, their supporters could have sat and occupied the roads nearby to the Dataran instead. But the crowd dispersed and went home.

Preplanned attack: Demand for liberation heard loud and clear

In the aftermath of the police violence, the 58-year-old Najib has been fishing for excuses to wriggle out from a nasty and sensitive political situation. The police have always been subservient to his Umno party, and he cannot be seen to punish them without losing their support eventually.

Signs are indeed emerging his administration had pre-planned the police attack with the intention to turn the tables on Anwar and Pakatan even though such a ruthless move would have to come at the expense of public safety. True or not, Najib also received a helping hand from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the mainstream media.

However, against startling and horrific video and photographic evidence, public opinion is still with the Bersih 3.0 organizers, Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat.

While addicted to politics, Malaysians have tended to be timid, hardly daring to speak out against the establishment. But the April 28 rally appears to be a key turning point in the nation’s history, with Malaysians finally breaking out from their shell. If anything, they are now raring for more. Anwar himself has noticed this and said so.

“The rakyat (people) will commemorate 28 April 2012 as the day Malaysia woke up and marched for liberation in one voice,” said Anwar in a statement out on Monday.

“We shall not be intimidated by continuous lies spawned by the state media. We have a much potent and effective media in our hands as the 300,000 rakyat carry the messages of Bersih 3.0 and liberation to every corner of the nation.”

Boomeranging, Najib’s headache set to become a migraine

At the end of the day, it is hard to believe Najib expects Malaysians to believe in his ‘version’ of who and what instigated the reprehensible police crackdown.

Right from the moment Hisham said that Bersih was not a threat to national security, to City Hall immediately banning the use of the Dataran, suspicion had swirled. The 11th hour strong-arm tactics of getting a court order that effectively legitimizes police action if the crowd tried to get into the Dataran was taken as further confirmation that bad faith was in the air.

According to Tian, the attack was pre-planned. It was manipulated with the aim of smearing Anwar and Pakatan, and there was also conspiracy between Najib’s advisers, the City Hall, the police and the BN-linked media, the PKR vice president said

True or not, it is already boomeranging. Bersih supporters who were there are already gathering visual and audio evidence that prove there was indeed a heinous plot to create public disorder – the purpose of which appears to be to discredit Anwar and the Pakatan.

GE-13

If Najib succeeds in capitalising on the police attack to whittle down the Opposition Leader’s credibility, some say he might immediately dissolve Parliament and call for snap polls.

Pundits have warned, the longer Najib waits, the more likely he is to create even more blunders. Hence, it might be prudent to have the GE-13 sooner rather later while the BN can still hope to garner a simple if slim victory.

However, even that might be too late. Already, a video put out by the Najib administration claiming that it was Anwar who gave the green light has been found to have been ‘edited’ for the purpose of intentionally creating a false picture.

Additionally, as more whistle-blowers emerge, Najib will soon find his Bersih 3.0 headache becoming a roaring migraine.

But if he did indeed endanger the safety of people for his own vested interests, then he more than deserves it!

Malaysia Chronicle

There seems to be a new trick to suppress pro-Opposition websites such as Malaysia Chronicle. Readers may be able to access and even put their comments on the latest Bersih 3.0 coverage BUT the portal is not able to publish new articles until much later – in our case only just after 8am Sunday morning.

Obviously this means ONLY the views and news of the establishment – Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government – gets out, influencing and bending public perceptions to its favor.

For Malaysia Chronicle, after checking with several IT experts, we suspect sabotage as it was more than 13 hours since we were suddenly ‘disabled’ and no solution could be found. It was indeed amazing!

Pre-planned and ruthless: Police and media attacks

It is clear that the police action against the protesters was unjustified and unnecessarily harsh. This was confirmed by all who reported on the ground for us. Nearly 400 people were arrested, scores injured.

There were also signs of manipulation, the use of agent provocateurs as well as bad faith by the Umno-controlled media. Some of these portals reported total crowd size of only 50,000, even giving breakdowns of how many participants at each location. One website went so far as to report that ‘tak sampai 4,000 yang berdemo’ (less than 4,000 people came to the demo).

Another dangerous manipulation was a news report that Bersih committee member Wong Chin Huat had admitted Bersih lost control of the crowd. Malaysia Chronicle did some checks and found this to be untrue. Bersih will be issuing a full statement shortly.

Such despicable actions cannot be condoned, although underhanded tactics can be expected given Umno-BN’s past record of using the media to color the people’s perception to its advantage. In the coming months, new and even more devious methods of propaganda will be used to smear Bersih and of course the Pakatan Rakyat Opposition.

Largest ever people’s assembly

Later on Sunday, Bersih will hold a press conference together with the 6 international observers who came to asses the Election Commission’s processes and who were also present at the April 28 mammoth rally.

Indeed, the crowd size of 250,000 to 300,000 makes Bersih 3.0 the largest ever people’s assembly in Malaysian history.

To an extent, the Najib administration can be counted on to hold its hand until the observers are safely out of the country. What happens after that is hard to predict, but on the cards are prosecution under the new security laws for both Bersih and Pakatan leaders.

Najib must take responsibility

Malaysians, who attended Bersih 3.0, must demand answers for what happened on Saturday – why did something joyous suddenly turn so nasty? From all the videos that have come out on You Tube, it was clear everyone was having a good time until it was marred at 3pm when the police fired tear gas into the crowd WITHOUT warning.

There was only one hour left to go before the rally was due to finish at 4pm. Which Bersih protester would be crazy enough to defy discipline at such a time when the mood was so happy and harmonious?

The answer – only those who wanted to discredit the outstanding display of support for Bersih! And guess who that would be!

Najib Razak, the country’s 6th prime minister, has been hiding his hand but can the police react in such a manner without his OK?

If it was just a sporadic breach of discipline at one or several scattered spots, why the continued hounding of protesters until way past 7pm?

Why the widespread use of tear gas and water canons?

Throwing the blame on Pakatan

PAS MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad has been reported as assuring such police brutality would not be tolerated if Pakatan came to power. If that is so, Malaysian must ensure they vote for Pakatan to safeguard their own lives.

This may sound partisan, but until Najib demands an explanation from the police and sacks the Inspector General of Police for the unwarranted violence, the people have every right to impute conspiracy and bad faith.

“Police who are professional would never act this way but instead try to control the situation, safeguard the public including the demonstrators because the police have weapons but the people do not,” said Khalid.

But would Najib sack Ismail Omar? After all, did he sack Shahrizat Jalil?

The response from Umno Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was a study in contrast to Khalid’s. It was clear Hisham was laying the ground for the Najib administration’s next course of action – to blame the Pakatan and Bersih for instigating the unruliness.

Azmin Ali, the PKR deputy chief, can brace to be pinpointed for inciting demonstrators by allegedly asking whether they wished to sit on the Dataran padang.

Azmin’s comment that the Dataran did not belong to DBKL was not only reported by the Star but highlighted several times on Twitter by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

GE-13 won’t be in June: Bersih 4.0 may be necessary

It is very likely that Najib and Umno will watch national and world reaction very closely before taking their next step. As far as possible, they will try to turn the tables on Bersih and blame Pakatan for instigating the police retaliation, in particular Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali.

One thing for sure, the 13th general election won’t be in June anymore. It will be delayed but that doesn’t mean Najib will concede to a cleanup of the electoral roll. For that to happen, the people will have to keep on demanding for their fundamental right to a clean ballot. Bersih 4.0 may have to be called.

Malaysians must not allow the police crackdown on Saturday to scare them from demanding free and fair polls. Does it even make sense to do so? Instead, Malaysians must bounce back even harder and demand that if Najib does not put in electoral reforms before GE-13 and if he once again allows the police to behave in that barbaric way, they will march to Putrajaya instead of Dataran to throw him and his Cabinet out.

Let us not forget, there was no reason for City Hall to ban the use of Dataran Merdeka, nor for the 11th hour court order restricting crowd movement. If anyone had planned and maneuvered for an untoward incident to occur, and is to blame for the ensuing police violence, it is the Umno-BN and its agencies. And Najib, as the head, has to take the responsibility.

“On reviewing what happened and how it took place, the attack was pre-planned. Police used extreme violence to provoke public retaliation. The aim was to make Bersih look bad,” PKR MP for Batu Tian Chua, who was only released from detention at around 5am Sunday morning, told Malaysia Chronicle.

Bersih 3.0 an OUTSTANDING success

Bersih 3.0 is not the first and will not be the last of Malaysia’s never-ending roll out of political conspiracies and corruption debacles.

Certainly, this will be the worst time for Malaysians to lose faith. By gagging the opposition media, Umno-BN will be able to inflict its own propaganda on an unsuspecting public. Those portals that have so far been fairly neutral can be counted on to suddenly ‘activate’ and churn out deliberately false reports to discredit Bersih and Pakatan. It is much like ‘sleepers’ or agent ‘moles’ or Trojan horses activating themselves in the enemy camp  once the signal is given.

Lastly, lest we forget the good moments of Bersih 3.0 – it was certainly a magnificent victory for the people. We should celebrate our coming of age, while fighting for justice for those who were badly beaten up at the same time.

We should also chase after Najib and not rest until we settle the score with him for his ‘misery-guts’ act of trying to deny the people their happiness and rightful feelings of success and achievement by ordering the police crackdown and City Hall ban.

Not only does Dataran Merdeka not belong to City Hall, Malaysia does not belong to Najib or Umno. Once and for all, let’s make it clear – Malaysia belongs to its people.

No longer afraid – a real warning to the Umno-BN

Bersih 3.0 showed that Malaysians are no longer afraid of the establishment.

This is a major first step. The next step is to not be afraid to demand that ANY government of the day has the ability to rein the police and the agencies. If the Najib administration cannot, then it must go. The people must continue to show that they are the boss and Malaysia belongs to them.

That as many as 250,000 to 300,000 Malaysians would take the trouble to come out into the streets despite the police threats and court order is a real warning for the BN. The writing is on the wall cannot be ignored any more. Najib is flailing and he will have to go.

In the meantime, Malaysians must continue to support Bersih and Pakatan in the fight for justice for those injured, while not forgetting the war for free and fair polls.

More than ever, Malaysians must show they will not back down to such crass bullying.

Above all, Malaysians must NEVER bow down to a government and prime minister so callous they can feel no compunction in sacrificing the safety and well-being of their citizens just to cling to power.

To borrow from one of the most popular chants during the Bersih 3.0 rally -  HIDUP RAKYAT!

An international fact-finding mission on the Malaysian election also notes that the mainstream media is biased.

“We don’t care who wins. I am not a Malaysian,” Fernandes said.

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 reflected a broad cross-section of Malaysian society, and were peaceful.  The police were initially restrained, although they did try to stop people from reaching various pre-announced meeting points.  However, the attitude of the police underwent a sea-change at 3:00 pm that day.  The reported breach of police barricades in some areas does not justify the police unleashing the full force of their arsenal upon crowds that were peaceful.  The police have shown in this incident that they do not have the maturity, discipline and restraint required of a professional force.  In this regard the Malaysian Bar strongly disagrees with the Minister of Home Affairs’ assertion that the police acted professionally. 

The court order excluding members of the public from Dataran Merdeka is arguably defective in law due to a lack of specificity.  Given that the BERSIH 3.0 rally had been announced on 4 April 2012, there was no need to have obtained the order ex parte.  There had been ample opportunity for the relevant parties to be heard before deciding if such an order deserved to be issued.  In addition, the order was obtained with respect to a situation of the authorities’ own making, by their unjustifiable denial of access to Dataran Merdeka.  It is important to bear in mind that the Minister of Home Affairs had previously announced that the BERSIH 3.0 rally was not a security threat.

Nonetheless, having obtained the exclusion order, the police proceeded to disrespect the order by unilaterally closing additional roads and restricting access to other areas not covered by its terms.  The terms of the order itself, the closing of the roads and the restriction in access gave rise to a tense situation that contributed to the unnecessary violence that occurred. 

As has been done with some other public assemblies in the past, the Malaysian Bar deployed lawyers and pupils-in-chambers to act as monitors during the rally, numbering approximately 80.  Our monitoring teams reported witnessing the use of an array of heavy-handed tactics by the police, including the indiscriminate discharging of multiple rounds of tear gas without any obvious provocation, and arbitrary use of water cannons.  Police fired tear gas directly at the crowd.  They also manoeuvred their firing pattern to box in the participants rather than allowing them to disperse quickly.  This is not action to disperse, but is instead designed to attack, a crowd.  When items were thrown at the police, the police stooped to return like for like. 

The Malaysian Bar does not countenance the belligerent conduct shown by a number of the participants.  However, we express deep and serious concern as to how the police responded.  The police displayed a lack of restraint and proportionality, reminiscent of their actions at the BERSIH 2.0 rally on 9 July 2011.  Instead of displaying action to calm the situation, they instead aggravated it and contributed to the escalation of the conflict.  Although organisers of public gatherings must bear some responsibility when things get out of hand due to their action or inaction, this does not and cannot excuse the response of the police.  

The monitoring teams also witnessed numerous acts of police brutality, such as assault of arrested persons.  Instead of merely apprehending suspects, the attitude of the police was punitive in nature.  The reported attacks by the police on members of the media, both local and international, and the confiscation and/or destruction of their photographs and video recordings, speaks to police action in covering up or preventing a full and accurate record of the BERSIH 3.0 rally and the responses of the police.
 
Regrettably, the police also showed a general lack of cooperation towards the Malaysian Bar’s monitoring teams, and were hostile in their attitude and approach at times.  This is most unprofessional and unbecoming, and serves as an unhealthy development with negative connotations for the future.
 
The Malaysian Bar notes that yesterday’s events have not occurred in isolation, but stem from the fundamental problems that gave rise to the BERSIH 3.0 rally in the first place, namely the ongoing and outstanding issues relating to the electoral roll, and the lack of confidence in its integrity and that of the electoral process in Malaysia.  
 
Those who look upon Dataran Merdeka as a symbol of freedom will view the exclusion from Dataran Merdeka as freedom denied.  The promise by the Government to respect democracy and human rights, and implement reforms, was tested yesterday.  The Government’s response and actions during the BERSIH 3.0 rally provided an indication of whether the new reform legislation will be perverted and abused in its use and implementation, where the wide powers vested in the authorities call for measured, proportionate and mature exercise.  The events of 28 April 2012 do not bode well in this regard.
 
Transformation and real recognition of democratic rights come at a price, namely constant vigilance.  The cost of not transforming and not allowing Malaysians the proper exercise of our democratic rights is too high.  In Malaysia’s march towards developed nation status by 2020, which is only eight years away, the constitutional right to clean, free and fair elections cannot and should not be sacrificed.  
 
  
Christopher Leong
Vice-President
Malaysian Bar

From http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/28/11440926-tear-gas-water-cannon-fired-at-reform-protesters-in-kuala-lumpur?lite

Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon on Saturday at a crowd of up to 25,000 protesters who had converged on the center of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to demand changes to an electoral system.

Demonstrators also battled with police at a train station nearby, throwing bottles at officers who responded by firing tear gas rounds.

Thousands who had been confronting police outside the city’s historic Merdeka Square were scattered after riot police fired water cannon and then at least 10 rounds of tear gas into the crowd. The police said they had been forced to react after protesters tried to force their way through barriers and enter the square.

The violence could carry political risks for Prime Minister Najib Razak if it is seen as unjustified, possibly forcing him to delay elections that must be called by next March but which could be held as early as June. Najib’s approval rating tumbled after July last year when police were accused of a heavy handed response to the last major electoral reform rally by the Bersih (Clean) group.

Bazuki Muhammad / Reuters

A protester with a message taped over his mouth takes part in the Bersih (Clean) rally near Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday.

“They asked the crowd to disperse but did not give enough warning,” said Aminah Bakri, 27, with tears streaming down her face from the tear gas exposure.

Police shut down much of the city center and enforced a court order that the protesters should not enter the symbolically important Merdeka Square.

The Bersih (Clean) group that is leading the protest earlier said it would obey the ban but will march as close as possible to the square, raising the possibility of a repeat of violent clashes that marred Bersih’s last major protest in July 2011.

Protesters posted on Twitter claiming to have been hit by the tear gas.

Photojournalist Jason Lioh posted: “1st hand experience of tear gas. Cried my eyes out & nearly puked myself out. Skins are stinging. Took salt and it helped. #Bersih”

“Now it looks like we will have to fight for our right to gather at Merdeka Square as well as fight for free and fair elections,” said Muhammed Hafiz, a 28-year-old store clerk who was preparing to join the protest.

Organisers hoped the protest will draw 100,000 people, including thousands demonstrating against a controversial rare earths plant being built by Australian firm Lynas on the country’s east coast. That would make it the biggest protest since the “Reformasi” (Reform) demonstrations in 1998 against then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Bazuki Muhammad / Reuters

Protesters of the Bersih (Clean) group shout slogans near Dataran Merdeka, also known as Independence Square, in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday.

A police official estimated the protesters numbered 15,000 to 20,000 by midday with just one arrest reported.

The protest is a delicate challenge for the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak, possibly affecting the timing of elections that he is preparing to call as early as June.

Najib must be mindful of conservatives in his party who are wary that his moves to relax tough security laws and push limited election reforms could threaten their 55-year hold on power.

Malaysia economy “turns the corner”; fiscal reform to be gradual

Last July’s rally, more than 10,000-strong, ended in violence when police fired tear gas and water cannons at the yellow-shirted protesters, drawing criticism of a heavy-handed response and sending Najib’s popularity sliding. His approval rating has since rebounded to 69 percent, according to one poll.

Police helicopters buzzed overhead on Saturday morning as protesters gathered. Reuters correspondents saw about 200 riot police stationed in the square and five water cannons heading to the site where Malaysia declared independence from Britain.

Mark Baker / AP

Police move to try and stop a group of protesters as they march through the central business district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday.

Bersih, an independent movement whose goals are backed by the opposition, has a history of staging influential rallies as Malaysians have demanded more freedoms and democratic rights in the former British colony that has an authoritarian streak.

The National Front is trying to recover from its worst ever election result in 2008 when it lost its two-thirds majority in parliament, giving the diverse, three-party opposition led by former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim real hope of taking power.

Najib has replaced tough security laws – ending indefinite detention without trial – relaxed some media controls, and pushed reforms to the electoral system that critics have long complained is rigged in the government’s favor. A bipartisan parliamentary committee set up by Najib this month issued 22 proposals for electoral reform, including steps to clean up electoral rolls and equal access to media.

However, the government gave no guarantee that any of the steps will be in place for the next election.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Indonesia’s Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) has claimed that Indonesians recently shot dead by Malaysian police have had their organs removed. This matter is receiving wide media coverage in their country.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat strongly condemns these acts if they are found to be true and calls for an immediate independent investigation into both the circumstances of the shootings and determine if any organ has been removed from the dead men.

The police have been implicated, therefore only an independent investigation will clear them and manage public perception. 

Immediate so as to stem any negative news building-up against our country in Indonesia, the good name of Malaysia and its police have to be protected.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat is prepared to work with the Indonesian Embassy, including legal assistance, to seek the facts of behind these deaths and if the bodies have been handled inappropriately.

Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Opposition Leader, Malaysian Parliament

Malaysiakini

Delegasi antarabangsa untuk misi siasatan pilihan raya di Malaysia hari ini mendapati terdapat tiga isu utama kekurangan dalam sistem pengundian negara ini.

Senator Nicholas Xenophon dari Australia berkata, antara isu yang dikenalpasti mengenai tempoh berkempen yang pendek selama 10 hari.

Di Australia kempen sekurang-kurangnya selama 33 hari dan di India dan Pakistan 90 hari, yang mana lebih lama berbanding di sini,” katanya pada sidang media selepas mengadakan pertemuan bersama Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz di Parlimen, pagi tadi.

Malaysiakini

Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur menuntut penjelasan lanjut daripada Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein yang mengisytiharkan gabungan proreformasi pilihan raya BERSIH 2.0 sebagai pertubuhan tidak sah tahun lalu.

Hishammuddin (kanan) kemudiannya bertukar pendirian apabila membenarkan BERSIH 3.0 atas alasan ia bukan ancaman kepada keselamatan, berbeza dengan keadaan sebelum 9 Julai apabila perhimpunan seumpamanya dianjurkan.

Hakim Datuk Rohana Yusof meminta penjelasan itu daripada hakim kanan persekutuan Azizan Md Arshad dan mengarahkan menteri berkenaan supaya memfailkan afidavit berhubung perkara itu sebelum 10 Mei.

Rohana akan menyampaikan keputusan terhadap permintaan BERSIH pada 15 Mei untuk memeriksa balas Hishammuddin dan Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Ismail Omar, dan untuk mendapatkan 1,706 laporan polis yang difailkan terhadapnya sebelum perhimpunan tahun lalu.

Peguam Aston Paiva, yang mewakili BERSIH dalam mencabar pengharaman kerajaan, memberitahu perkara itu kepada pemberita selepas beliau dan Azizan bertemu hakim di kamar.

Jom Bersih 3.0

26 April 2012 (Khamis)

1)    7.00 mlm – Solat & Tazkirah Maghrib

    Lokasi – Kediaman Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim – Bukit Segambut

2)    9.00 – 12.00 – Ceramah Perdana – Countdown Bersih 3.0

    Lokasi : Flat Sri Labuan, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur

    Penceramah:

i.                    YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

ii.                  YAB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim

iii.                YBhg Tan Sri Kadir Sheikh Fadir

iv.               YB Khalid Samad

v.                 YBhg Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin