Malaysia Breaking News

Irene Fernandez says cops yet to call over sedition probe

2012-05-18T05:34:00.001-07:00

Investigated for sedition, prominent activist Irene Fernandez said today the police have yet to contact her for statements into her alleged remarks on Malaysia being unsafe for migrant workers, published in an Indonesian daily recently.

The Tenaganita executive director told The Malaysian Insider she was not aware of the investigation and had not received any phone calls from the police.

“No, no there were no calls,” she said when contacted, sounding surprised.

Fernandez (picture) declined to respond today, saying she will hold a press conference on Monday instead.

“Not today. On Monday,” she said.

Fernandez added she was aware of the two non-government bodies and officers from the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) who had lodged police reports at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters here on May 16, calling for her to be investigated for alleging that Bangladeshi migrant workers were oppressed and regularly intimidated by the authorities.

City Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah confirmed the investigation was based on two police reports filed two days ago.

“Maybe under (the) Sedition (Act) but we have to see first. We may also call her to give a statement to help in the investigation,” Ku was reported by Bernama as telling reporters today.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was yesterday reported to have condemned Fernandez for her remarks that were damaging to the country, saying she was disloyal.

The human rights activist, who is 66 this year, was questioned by officials from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last week for criticising Malaysia’s treatment of migrant workers in the Indonesian daily.

The Jakarta Post had on May 7 reported Fernandez as saying, among others, that Malaysia was not safe for Indonesian workers because it did not have a legal framework or specific laws to protect migrant workers.

She was also reported to have said that it was not in the police’s power to shoot dead three Indonesian nationals, who had been suspected of burglary and robbery, in an incident in Port Dickson recently.

Fernandez has since come under heavy fire locally for her criticism, which detractors say has painted Malaysia in a negative light, was unpatriotic and detrimental to Malaysia’s bilateral relations with Indonesia.

She has since disputed the remarks and said the Jakarta Post would print a correction to the article.

But she stressed that she would not back down from her stand that Malaysia continues to be a “completely” unsafe environment for Indonesian workers.

The activist, who was once jailed for exposing the allegedly poor conditions at local immigration centres, also refused to apologise for her statements, demanding instead that the government and her critics apologise to her.

Indonesia recently lifted the moratorium on the supply of domestic workers to Malaysia, but Indonesian Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar has repeatedly said Jakarta would not send workers until Putrajaya could ensure their protection.

Two cops deny assaulting photographer during Bersih rally

2012-05-18T05:31:00.003-07:00

Two policemen have pleaded not guilty to assaulting Guang Ming Daily photographer Wong Kin Onn during the chaotic April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally in the city.

Mohd Khairul Asri Mohd Sobri and Shahrul Niza Abd Jalil were allowed bail at RM3,000 each after they claimed trial at the magistrates’ court here.

If convicted under Section 350 of the Penal Code for using criminal violence, they face up to three months’ jail and/or a RM1,000 fine.

According to the proffered charge, Khairul and Shahrul Niza — together with two others still at large — allegedly attacked Wong at the junction of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja between 5.20pm and 5.30pm on April 28.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak had pledged early this month that “credible, experienced and respectable” individuals would investigate the events during Bersih’s third rally for free and fair elections, which descended into chaos after police clashed with protestors.

But the prime minister then said the real purpose of the opposition-backed Bersih rally was to “fight, kick and strip the police” while calling on his party to ensure “uncivilised enemies” were not allowed to “destroy the country.”

Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have also repeatedly defended the police who they say were victims of violence at the rally.

Influential former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has insisted that police acted in self-defence while Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has also claimed some participants in the rally wanted deaths to occur.

The April 28 rally, which saw tens of thousands gather at six different locations before heading to Dataran Merdeka, was peaceful until about 2.30pm when Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan asked the crowd to disperse.

But her call was not heard by most of the crowd who persisted around the historic square, which the court had already barred to the public over the weekend.

Just before 3pm, some protestors breached the barricade surrounding the landmark, leading police to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.

Police then continued to pursue the rally-goers down several streets amid chaotic scenes which saw violence from both sides over the next four hours.

Bersih 3.0 : Police car crash in chaos at SOGO

2012-05-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

A police car crashed trying to flee angry protestors but then crashed into at least two people.
Two police patrol cars had stopped at the traffic lights on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman near Pertama Complex.

A male protestor then leapt on the bonnet of one car while surrounding protestors threw stones and water bottles at the vehicle, causing the windscreen to shatter.

When the lights turned green, the driver accelerated but skidded out on control and crashed on the sidewalk outside Sogo shopping complex and hit at least two people, injuring them.

The angry crowd then surrounded the policemen but volunteers from PKR's Jingga 13 formed a human shield around the officers, saying "don't blame them, it's not their fault."

Umno's 66th anniversary celebrations at Bukit Jalil Stadium

2012-05-18T05:28:00.000-07:00

The National Stadium at Bukit Jalil is a sea of red as thousands of Umno members converged to celebrate the party's 66th anniversary.

Give Najib a chance, says Tunku Aziz

2012-05-18T05:24:00.001-07:00

Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim has made an impassioned call to the people to support the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Give Najib the chance and time to see his transformation programmes currently being implemented, come into fruition, he said.

Tunku Abdul Aziz who quit the party on Monday to defend his stand against holding the Bersih 3.0 demonstration on April 28, repeated his view that the transformation programmes were good for the country.

“What the prime minister has done now is the right thing and we need to support him,” he said, adding that Najib’s transformation process for change would certainly take time.

“By definition, the process will take a little bit of time,” he said while stressing that this included Najib’s administration on improving the democratic process of the country.

Asked for his views on whether Najib’s leadership would receive the support of the people in the coming general election with the changes he has made, Tunku Abdul Aziz said: “I am not a political analyst and I do not know how to speculate. But the process will take time, given the chance. “

“In the past, we have been screaming that the government did not do this and that, but now, the government is listening, that is why I say, there was no need to protest... (now) they want Bersih 4.0... what else do they want?,” he asked.

He said the protest was held to attract the attention of the people. (The aim of a protest is to draw attention and raise awareness).

“Do you think the government did not see what the people wanted? In the assembly, 98 per cent protested to change the law but there were two more per cent... they have other agenda... to create a riot,” he noted.

Tunku Abdul Aziz also referred to the action of certain opposition political parties, which seized the protest from the non-governmental organiser to create a riot, so much so that several policemen and members of the public were injured.

Asked for his opinion on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tunku Abdul Aziz said, since he became a columnist for The New Sunday Times, he did not agree with his style of politics and that he had written an article, “Stop the theatrics, Anwar, let Malaysians get on with their life”.

The article touched on rumours that the federal government would fall to the opposition on September 16, 2008, with a large number of BN members of parliament jumping to join the opposition.

“Hopping is not my game... I despise people who do that... we contest under, let’s say, Umno banner and later hop to Anwar... I do not agree. If you want to jump, resign and hold a by-election to contest on an independent ticket, then we will see who will win,” he said.

Tunku Abdul Aziz, a corporate figure and activist against corruption, was the vice-chairman of Transparency International.

He assisted in setting up Transparency International-Malaysia, joined DAP after the March 2008 general election and was appointed vice-chairman and later made senator in July 2009.

However, his term as a member of the senate representing DAP was not extended by the party leadership after he made open statements against Bersih, which was supported by his party and Pakatan Rakyat.

On whether he would review his decision to leave DAP, Tunku Abdul Aziz made it clear the decision was final.

“(As) I have said (before), if I get out, I am out... end of story,” he said.

When asked whether he received any comments or feedback from other Malay DAP members after deciding to leave the party, he replied in the negative.

On former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comments that he was surprised that Tunku Abdul Aziz joined the DAP, he said he joined the party in his struggle against corruption and promote integrity in the government and business sectors.

He had served in the corporate sector and was a Bank Negara adviser before becoming an activist, said Tunku Abdul Aziz.

“I joined DAP, not to become a politician... if I had wanted to become a politician, I would have joined after college... if I wanted to join Umno, I would have done so, a long time ago... I thought I am better without being politically linked... non-partisan,” he said.

He said at the moment, he would take a long rest, shut his telephone and spend time breeding ornamental fish.

Guan Eng defends banning Utusan in Penang, calls it ‘party organ’

2012-05-18T05:22:00.001-07:00

Lim Guan Eng today defended Penang’s decision to ban Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, calling it a “party organ” masquerading as a newspaper following criticism that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bloc does not guarantee media freedom.

On Wednesday, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said in its report that a Pakatan Rakyat-led government was no guarantor of media freedom due to its banning of Utusan in Penang and Kelantan.

But the Penang chief minister insisted today that when it came to media freedom, newspapers must “walk the talk”.

“When you talk about newspapers, you have to be clear, are they newspapers or party organs? You cannot have party organs that masquerade as newspapers,” he told reporters at a press conference here.

“Utusan Malaysia is not a newspaper. It is a party organ because they don’t give you right of reply.”

He cited Utusan’s yearly reports that Penang had banned a march to commemorate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday as proof of the newspaper’s false reporting and reluctance to allow him to reply to its articles.

“Every year, Utusan says (the march) is banned, when actually it isn’t. Penang people know (that it is not banned). Penang Malays laugh because they themselves marched in it.”

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said that despite refuting the newspaper’s articles on the matter, Utusan only stopped reporting it after he had sued them and won the case.

But he pointed out that as he could not sue Utusan “every day” for its “false reports”, he was left with no option but to bar its reporters from covering the state government proceedings in Penang.

“Even when I sue and won the case, they still continue. What can I do? It’s an act of self defence. I have no choice but to say ‘please don’t cover me and print my news’,” he said.

“It’s okay with me because I’m scared of you. I throw my hands up. Don’t cover me because you don’t give me the right of reply,” he said.

The Penang legislative assembly adopted a motion in May 2011 barring Utusan from covering its proceedings following unverified reports on the renovation costs of Lim’s rented residence, and an alleged plot by the DAP and Christian pastors to change the country’s official religion to Christianity.

Ambiga says attempted break-in at office

2012-05-18T00:16:00.004-07:00

Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan reported a possible break-in attempt at her office in Damansara Heights here this morning after a staff member found the security box at the premises dismantled.

But the Bersih co-chair told The Malaysian Insider that it was not immediately certain if anyone had made it into her office as nothing was believed to have been stolen.

“But I am more afraid of people planting things rather than stealing things,” Ambiga (picture) said when contacted. “Still, I do not know if anyone came in.”

She said her staff member, who is lodging a police report on the incident now, had made the discovery at about 8 this morning.

“The security box, where you swipe your card to enter, was completely dismantled,” she said.

Asked if she believed the attempted break-in was linked to the series of anti-Bersih protests outside her home, Ambiga refused to speculate.

“Let me get more information first. We are lodging a report, so let’s get more details before saying anything further,” she said.

Ambiga has been at the centre of attacks since she led a crowd of thousands down the streets of the capital during the Bersih 3.0 sit-in on April 28.

Last Thursday, members of the Malaysia Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Ikhlas) held a “burger protest” outside her home in Bukit Damansara here, claiming that the Bersih 3.0 protest had caused them a loss of income amounting to RM200,000.

About 10 traders and some individuals dressed in Barisan Nasional (BN) uniform prepared about 200 burgers during their hour-long protest and offered some to Ambiga, who is vegetarian, as well as reporters covering the event.

They also hung a burger on the gate of her house, which was removed.

The former Bar Council president, who is often seen flanked by bodyguards wherever she goes, had later called the protest an invasion of privacy.

She told the traders to file their claim for the losses suffered in court instead of holding protests outside her house.

Ikhlas is now planning to stage a larger protest with 500 traders on May 24 as they “want the rally organisers to take responsibility for their actions and compensate traders.”

Police have said they will not act against the traders as there is no offence “if you want to sit in front of her house without disrupting other people.”

“They didn’t enter her house, they were in a public space,” Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said on Monday, adding that under the recently-enforced Peaceful Assembly Act all parties should be allowed to conduct peaceful gatherings.

On Tuesday, about 10 retired soldiers from the Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVTM) exercised their bottoms outside Ambiga’s house to protest against the Bersih chief for being an “enemy” of the nation.

“We Armed Forces veterans have the right to protest against an ‘enemy’ who tried to smear the nation’s name,” said PVTM president Datuk Mohd Ali Baharom.

Ambiga came out of her house to meet the veterans and received a placard from them which read “tolak Ambiga Anwar (reject Ambiga Anwar)”, referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Bersih 3.0 April 28 rally saw tens of thousands gather at six different locations before heading to Dataran Merdeka and was peaceful until about 2.30pm when Ambiga asked the crowd to disperse.

But her call was not heard by most of the crowd who persisted around the historic square which the court had already barred to the public over the weekend.

Just before 3pm, some protestors breached the barricade surrounding the landmark, leading police to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.

Police then continued to pursue the rally-goers down several streets amid chaotic scenes which saw violence from both sides over the next four hours.

Several dozen demonstrators have claimed that they were assaulted by groups of over 10 policemen at a time and visual evidence appears to back their claim but police also point to violence from rally-goers who also attacked a police car.

The police car then crashed into a building before some protesters flipped it on its side.

RM5m worth of imitation sports wear confiscated

2012-05-18T00:14:00.003-07:00

250,000 fake jerseys of top football teams seized at two sites

DOMESTIC Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (MDTCC) enforcement officers seized more than RM5 million worth of imitation football jerseys in raids on two locations here yesterday.

In what was described as the biggest seizure in Selangor this year, 250,000 fake jerseys carrying premium brands were confiscated from the two premises in Sri Damansara 5 and Sri Damansara 13.

Both premises, which doubled up as storerooms for the goods, were believed to be run by a syndicate.

The officers also detained a woman, in her 20s, at the Sri Damansara 13 premise who was guarding the storeroom when the operation was mounted.

The raids, led by the ministry's director of enforcement, Othman Nawang, were conducted simultaneously at about 8am yesterday after two weeks of surveillance at both locations.

It was learnt that the jerseys were meant for sale at shops in the Klang Valley.

"We believe that they are going to sell each jersey for between RM15 and RM30," Othman said.

He added that the syndicate was believed to have been been active for the last six months.

Accused struck tourist with liquor bottle FORAY'S MURDER french tourist murder

2012-05-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

FRENCHWOMAN Stephanie Foray was killed by petty trader Asni Omar, who struck her with a liquor bottle, the prosecution said in the opening of the trial yesterday.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Salim Soib @ Hamid told the High Court here that Asni was the last person seen with 30-year-old Foray on Pulau Tioman on May 10 last year. He said the prosecution would prove that it was Asni who had killed Foray and buried her body in a cave.

"During interrogation at the Mersing police headquarters on Aug 8 last year, the accused told Inspector Mohd Zairi Badderul that Foray had died and her body was buried in a cave behind his house in Kampung Tekek, Pulau Tioman," said Salim, adding that Asni took police to the cave on the same day.

Police later retrieved a liquor bottle which was allegedly used by Asni to kill the victim at a waste disposal site in Tanjung Gemuk, Rompin.

Asni, 37, had earlier maintained his not guilty plea when the case was mentioned before judge Datuk Mariana Yahya yesterday. He is charged with murdering Foray at an unnumbered house in Kampung Tekek between 8pm on May 10 and noon on May 12 last year.

Salim was assisted by DPPs Nor Azizah Mohamad and Farah Nazri while Asni was represented by five lawyers -- Mohd Hisham Abdul Rahim, Ibrahim Kamaruddin, Datuk Ng See Teong, Noor Adilah Zarian and Suraya Haranay.

Foray's family has appointed counsel Amy Ling to hold a watching brief.

Mariana has fixed the trial to begin from yesterday to May 31 and about 55 witnesses are expected to take the stand.

Clad in a blue striped T-shirt and pants, Asni appeared calm.

Foray, a 30-year-old civil servant from Bour-en-Bresse, France, arrived in Malaysia on May 5 after touring India and Sri Lanka.

She spent a few nights in Malacca and arrived at Pulau Tioman on May 10. In June, police launched an investigation.

The first witness, detective Corporal Roslan Ishak, told the court yesterday that he had taken 31 pictures, including the cave where Foray's skeletal remains were found and the suspect's room where they discovered bloodstains on the wall.

WWW last day bid

2012-05-18T00:11:00.000-07:00

Bidders plead, cajoled with JPJ in a bid to have their very last minute application for the www registration numbers accepted.

Deputy minister urges action

2012-05-18T00:10:00.000-07:00

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Sai Kee wants authorities to address the "butt exercise" routine conducted by Malaysian Arm Forces Veteran Association members outside Datuk S. Ambiga's home in Bukit Damansara on Wednesday.

She said that although she too did not support the Bersih 3.0 rally, headed by Ambiga, she felt the action of the army veterans was inappropriate.

"I do not see the 'butt exercise' as sexual harassment. It was more of a nuisance. Nonetheless, the matter should be addressed by the Defence Ministry's Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We are not sure if the routine is part of the army's exercise regime," she said.

However, Heng said that if Ambiga felt the ritual has affected her life or privacy, she could always filed a complaint.

She hoped the matter between Ambiga and those affected by the April 28 rally would be solved professionally.

Women NGOs, however, felt differently about the 'butt exercise' issue, describing it as sexual harassment and an invasion of privacy.

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) programmes manager Betty Yeoh said the army veterans action were disrespectful.

"The term sexual harassment means unwanted conduct of sexual nature causing harassment.

"In this case, Ambiga found the 'butt exercise' to contain sexual elements but the grilling of burgers outside her home a form of harassment.

"Both acts had also intruded into the lives of those staying on the same street," she said.

Sisters in Islam acting executive director Ratna Osman said the association always cherished the democratic right to protest and air dissenting views without fear or retribution.

"However, what transpired at Ambiga’s private residence is a clear infringement of her privacy. After all, the recent rally took place in public areas and not at the residences of the Prime Minister or the Inspector-General of Police."

Ratna said there were elements of harassment in both protests outside Ambiga's home.

"We have to see past the business and look at the intent. In this case, the intent of setting up the burger stalls was clearly to intimidate Ambiga through a physical presence in front of her private residence," she said.

"Her Gandhian approach must be applauded," she said.

Women's Aid Organization executive director Ivy Josiah deemed the actions by the men outside Ambiga's home as crude and sexist.

All of us were fully clothed, say army vets

2012-05-18T00:06:00.000-07:00

The "butt exercises" event at Bersih co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga's house was only a form of "healthy exercise" by 10 former army personnel, said the Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Association (PVTM).

Its president, Mohd Ali Baharom, who was one of the 10, said they did not define their behaviour on Tuesday as sexual harassment as "all of us were fully clothed".

"If she didn't like us being there, surely she would not have offered us drinks. She would have totally ignored us," he said, "but she even spoke with us and accepted a poster we gave her."

Ambiga had reportedly said she only greeted the protesters and offered them drinks because she was trying to emulate Mahatma Gandhi's footsteps in "responding with kindness to those against you".

Mohd Ali said the group's main purpose of the protest was to stop Ambiga from organising another rally.

"We are grateful that since then, she had issued a statement on Tuesday that there are no immediate plans to organise another rally.

"For that, I urge others to respect her and not hold more demonstrations in front of her house," he said. On May 16, the Bersih 3.0 committee, stated that they have no current plans to organise another one despite calls from supporters to do so.

The committee had said their focus now was to ensure that the coming general elections is as free as possible from fraudulent practices. The 8.30am protest by PVTM was the second held in front of Ambiga's house.

On May 10, a group of traders from the Malaysia Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Ikhlas), held an hour-long "burger protest" by setting up burger stalls and distributing them for free to the public.

The traders claimed they suffered substantial loss of income due to the Bersih rally in the city.

Dr M: Hold polls after Raya

2012-05-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes the best time for the general election is after Hari Raya.

Cops probing Irene Fernandez for sedition over ‘unsafe Malaysia’ remark

2012-05-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Police have opened an investigation paper on Irene Fernandez for sedition, following the prominent activist’s remarks that Malaysia was unsafe for migrant workers, published in an Indonesian paper recently.

City Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said the investigation was based on two police reports filed two days ago.

"Maybe under (the) Sedition (Act) but we have to see first. We may also call her give a statement to help in the investigation,” Ku was reported by Bernama as telling reporters today.

The national news agency reported that two non-government bodies and officers from the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) had lodged police reports at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters on May 16, calling for the Tenaganita executive director to be investigated for alleging that Bangladeshi migrant workers were oppressed and regularly intimidated by the authorities.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was yesterday reported to have condemned Fernandez for her remarks that were damaging to the country, saying she was disloyal.

The human rights activist, who is 66 this year, was questioned by officials from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last week for criticising Malaysia’s treatment of migrant workers in the Indonesian daily.

The Jakarta Post had on May 7 reported Fernandez as saying, among others, that Malaysia was not safe for Indonesian workers because it did not have a legal framework or specific laws to protect migrant workers.

She was also reported to have said that it was not in the police’s power to shoot dead three Indonesian nationals, who had been suspected of burglary and robbery, in an incident in Port Dickson recently.

Fernandez has since come under heavy fire locally for her criticism, which detractors say has painted Malaysia in a negative light, was unpatriotic and detrimental to Malaysia’s bilateral relations with Indonesia.

She has since disputed the remarks and said the Jakarta Post would print a correction to the article.

But she stressed that she would not back down from her stand that Malaysia continues to be a “completely” unsafe environment for Indonesian workers.

The activist, who was once jailed for exposing the allegedly poor conditions at local immigration centres, also refused to apologise for her statements, demanding instead that the government and her critics apologise to her.

Indonesia recently lifted the moratorium on the supply of domestic workers to Malaysia, but Indonesian Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar has repeatedly said Jakarta would not send workers until Putrajaya could ensure their protection.

Larger Bersih turnout, but violence may play into Umno’s hands

2012-04-28T20:00:00.002-07:00

Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) initial joy at a larger crowd for this year’s Bersih rally turned sour after demonstrators broke down barricades and engaged in open battles with police yesterday, giving Umno hawks fodder ahead of coming elections.

Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters spent the night flooding social media networks claiming that participants of the rally for free and fair elections, backed by the opposition, attacked police with missiles and even overturned a patrol car.

It has put PR on the defensive, with PKR deputy president Azmin Ali telling The Malaysian Insider “Umno will try to link this to 1998,” a reference to claims that the Reformasi movement caused widespread street violence after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as deputy prime minister.

“This will be widely contested over the media the next couple of days,” said political analyst Ong Kian Ming.

The UCSI lecturer told The Malaysian Insider that there was a “50-50” chance of a delay to polls, currently expected to be called by June, depending on the impact to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s popularity with the international media playing a key role.

The foreign press’ condemnation of the government’s crackdown on last July’s Bersih rally led the prime minister to announce a raft of reforms including a parliamentary select committee on electoral improvements and the Peaceful Assembly Act that came into force on Monday.

But both have been criticised for being cosmetic and yesterday’s planned sit-in at Dataran Merdeka, which drew at least 25,000, was the first major test for the assembly law the Umno president says abides by “international norms.”

Initial international press reports have already been negative as police once again fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators. But the fact that protestors caused damage to persons and property when trying to force their way into the historic square will give BN some breathing space.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also insisted police acted with restraint, and other BN leaders will likely point to how just 388 have been arrested as of 9pm yesterday, about a quarter of the total number who were swept up in last year’s clampdown.

Already, Bersih and PR leaders are distancing themselves from those who attacked police after Hishammuddin said at least 20 officers had sought hospital treatment.

Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan conceded the violence may be a blow to the push for democratic reforms as some may feel the rally “had gone wrong.”

But she called on the Najib administration to “go further and ask themselves why would the people be so prepared to put themselves in such a situation?”

After police fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators, some retaliated by attacking a police car whose driver tried to speed away but lost control and eventually crashed into a few rally-goers.

They were prevented from further attacking the police officers but still turned the car on its side.

Others later refused to disperse but began throwing broken bottles and concrete slabs at riot police and a delegation of police special forces ferrying KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail in one of their cars.

Windows of two cars were smashed, forcing the convoy to turn around and flee.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political science professor Shamsul Adabi Mamat said the scenes were the result of the opposition’s desperation ahead of polls that must be called within a year.

“Because the election is nearing, they (the opposition) must provoke and create an issue,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Unruly mob attacks police patrol car

2012-04-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

An unruly mob attacked a police patrol car passing Dataran Merdeka early Saturday morning. The incident occurred about 3AM and saw the crowd chanting abuse, hitting the patrol car and banging on its bonnet.

City Deputy Police Chief Datuk Amar Singh confirmed that police had received reports regarding the incident.

He said there was no provocation from the police officers who were in the patrol car, and they were just passing through when the incident happened.

Police are investigating the matter.

Protesters disperse but police remain at Dataran

2012-04-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

The protesters have gone home but a strong police presence remains at Dataran Merdeka where protesters had earlier breached a barbed wire cordon, triggering a response from the police that included water cannons and tear gas.

Police said their response was prompted by the violent act of protesters, and by 8pm, 388 protesters had been arrested.

Although the rally and the sit-in to demand free and fair elections was to have been held between 2pm to 4pm, people began gathering in the morning and dispersed well after nightfall.

8.30pm: Police say that by 8pm, 388 people had been arrested.

7.20pm: Police say that by 7pm, 222 people had been arrested over rally at Dataran Merdeka

7.15pm: Masjid Jamek crowd finally disperse for good after police arrest several protesters. Traffic on Jln Tun Perak resumes

7.10pm: RapidKL says that all LRT stations in Kuala Lumpur are now open

6.55pm: Two rounds of tear gas fired at defiant Masjid Jamek crowd. Protesters run to take cover

6.45pm: An unidentified person threw a rock and smashed the window of a four-wheel vehicle with Special Action Force in it, near Jalan Parlimen roundabout
6.43pm: RapidKL: Masjid Jamek LRT station has been closed again
6.25pm: Riot police and water cannon trucks that had left Masjid Jamek earlier return to disperse defiant crowd there.

6.20pm: Protesters at Masjid Jamek hurl things at passing police cars. Some car windows broken.

6.15pm: Jalan TAR, where a group of protestors had a stand off with police, now open to traffic. Crowds move to sidewalks but are not dispersing. Cops go to Dataran Merdeka area

6.10pm: Opposition leaders tweet to urge protesters to disperse.

5.42pm: Ambiga said Bersih did not support the act of certain individuals who broke the barrier at Dataran Merdeka. She urged the police to investigate the incident that caused police to fire tear gas into crowd.

5.40pm: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein tweeted that two policemen had been injured and admitted into hospital. The snatched police pistol has been recovered. So far, 23 received outpatient treatment, including 20 policemen and three protesters, he said on his Twitter posting.

5.35pm: RapidKL: Sulatan Ismail LRT station reopened. Bandaraya, Masjid Jamek and Plaza Rakyat stations remain closed.

5.30pm: Policemen on foot near Dataran Merdeka move towards protesters who defied orders to disperse

Bersih admits lost crowd control after police action

2012-04-28T10:07:00.001-07:00

Bersih admitted it lost control of the tens of thousands on the streets of the capital today when protesters failed to adhere to strict instructions not to breach the police barricade surrounding Dataran Merdeka. Steering committee member Wong Chin Huat told The Malaysian Insider that Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan had ordered the crowd to disperse some time after 2pm but this message did not reach the crowd of thousands gathered outside the square.

“The dismissal was announced but they could not hear. Ambiga could have been at one end and they could not hear it,” he said, adding that the Bersih co-chair had marched from her meeting point at Central Market and reached Jalan Tun Perak near Dataran Merdeka when she told the crowd to disperse.

When the rally continued, said Wong, Bersih leaders and security personnel from PAS’s Unit Amal failed to hold back protesters from proceeding to breach the barricade, which the election watchdog group had earlier promised it would not do today.

Following the breach, the Federal Reserve Unit and hundreds of riot police sprung into action, raining down chemical-laced water and tear gas canisters upon protesters who were running in droves towards the square.

The coalition of 84 civil societies also called for investigations into the violence that took place, pledging to give full co-operation to the police.

Ambiga told a press conference that the some 250,000 to 300,000 protesters who turned up were “extremely well-behaved and excellent,” until “someone” pushed through the barriers in front of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) leading to Dataran Merdeka.

“The turnout itself was a success as we received so much support. Everything was going fine until someone broke through the barriers — which we do not support at all — and thus provoked the tear gas.

“We want the police to fully investigate all who engaged in violence. This was not what we wanted at all,” the former Bar Council president said.

Police had fired water cannons and tear gas on demonstrators who pushed through the barricade in front of DBKL, resulting in chaos on the streets.

Some of the 15,000-strong crowd broke down the barriers and moved towards the historic square, leading to police firing chemical-laced water and tear gas canisters.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali tried to negotiate with police, who told the Gombak MP to calm the group down. But despite his advice they still broke through the barricades.

Police fired as far as the DBKL premises, which are across Jalan Parlimen, and the move broke up the crowd at Dataran who fled helter-skelter.

Angry protestors later attacked a police car which then crashed into at least two people while trying to flee.

The angry crowd then surrounded the policemen but volunteers from PKR’s Jingga 13 formed a human shield around the officers, saying “don’t blame them, it’s not their fault.”

After an ambulance took away the injured policemens, the protestors flipped the car over on its side but then fled after tear gas was fired.

Father appeal for son safety

2012-04-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

12-year-old abducted while going to school

2012-04-28T02:20:00.000-07:00

A 12-year-old boy who was on his way to Mont' Kiara International School (MKIS) near his home was abducted by two men in a black car.

Nayati Shamelin Moodliar, who was in his school uniform, was grabbed at about 7.35am just a short distance from his school.

According to witnesses, the men, who were in a black sedan, grabbed the boy while he was walking to school, bundled him into the car and sped off.

Nayati, who has dark brown eyes, is about 1.5m tall and weighs 45kg. He was wearing a white polo T-shirt with the school's emblem and dark green shorts. The boy's sobbing parents have appealed to the abductors to release their only son as soon as possible.

“We just want him to come home safely. Please release our son and contact us.

“We do not want any trouble. We just want our son back, please,” the boy's father Sham Moodliar said.
The parents were approached by reporters at the scene earlier today, where residents had turned up in a show of support and were distributing posters of the missing boy.

The family and concerned citizens have taken to social media to help spread awareness.
Police are investigating the incident after the family lodged a report at the Brickfields station.
School head Walter Morris described Nayati as a friendly and popular child, who has a positive attitude and gets along with everyone.

“He is a good child. We hope they find him soon,” he said, adding that the school was in a lock-down initially following the incident.
MKIS has also posted Nayati's disappearance on its website www.mkis.edu.my.

Nayati's schoolmates have taken to YouTube to appeal for his safe return and urged the public to spread the word on social media.
“A lot of people are sad. We are all sad.
“Please, if you can search around Hartamas or Mont' Kiara or anywhere in Malaysia, try and find him.”
Another student urged as many people as possible to share the information on Nayati's disappearance be it on YouTube or other avenue.

“Please share to all your friends. It is sad that Nayati got abducted. So please help.”

Meanwhile, Nayati's fate has caught the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who expressed his concern through Twitter.

“Let's all pray and, through so-cial media amplify and search for Nayati.

“I appeal as a father for Nayati not to be harmed in any way. Spoke directly to IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar) to investigate this matter,'' he tweeted last night.

Those with information are urged to contact police at 999; the school at 03-2093-8604; or 013-681-6085.

Bersih 3.0 Rally Updates

2012-04-28T02:14:00.001-07:00

Following are live updates leading up to the planned Bersih 3.0 sit-in at Dataran Merdeka here Saturday afternoon.

4.50pm: Crowds seen dispersing and leaving Dataran.

4.40pm: Police car overturned by protestors near Sogo, says Deputy CPO Datuk Amar Singh

4.35pm: Polic tweet: A police gun has been snatched by protestors. Public urged to be cautious

4.32pm: RapidKL: LRT stations at Plaza Rakyat, Bandaraya, Masjid Jamek and Pasar Seni still closed. Dang Wangi are opened.

4.28pm: Several police jeeps parked outside Maju junction take off in a hurry as protesters kick and throw water bottles at them.

4.20pm: At Masjid Jamek, protestors have still not dispersed. Police are now firing water cannons. Those not affected by water still staying put.

4.13pm: Dataran Merdeka quiet now as protestors have been dispersed. No more tear gas fired.

4.10pm: Malaysian Red Crescent volunteers handing out water to the crowd in front of Sogo.

4.00pm: Tear gas fired again at Jalan Pudu in front of Kota Raya. Protesters running towards Pasar Seni.

Kuala Lumpur in the thick of the Bersih rally (Video)

2012-04-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

Protestors break through barricades; cops fire tear gas, water cannons

2012-04-28T01:42:00.001-07:00

Following are live updates leading up to the planned Bersih 3.0 sit-in at Dataran Merdeka here Saturday afternoon. 3.47pm:

All those who are arrested are being brought back to the Royal Selangor Club for processing. Weather is quickly becoming dark. Likely to rain soon

3.45pm: RapidKL: Dang Wangi and Pasar Seni LRT stations closed.

3.15pm: RapidKL: Masjid Jamek LRT station closed; passengers heading to the station need to alight at Pasar Seni or Dang Wangi. More tear gas fired to disperse protestors, including at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee and near Masjid Jamek LRT station.

3.05pm: FRU personnel have moved into the areas surrounding Dataran Merdeka.

Police and FRU surrounding Dataran Merdeka

3pm: Protestors who breached barricades fleeing from police personnel. Several protestors arrested. More tear gas fired to disperse protestors, who are now fleeing towards Jln Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

2.57pm: A group of demonstrators break through the barricade at Dataran. Police forced to fire tear gas and spray water cannons at the protesters.

2.40pm: Truck that Ambiga, Anwar and the rest were standing atop slowly heads in the direction of Dataran while the crowd follows. 2.30pm: Ambiga tells crowd at Masjid Jamek to disperse, after a short speech where she reiterated her call for free and fair elections.

2.25: Crowd at Dataran chanting, "We want Dataran" and trying to push through barrier now. Fears of stampede for people on the front now but situation brought under control again. Situation very tense. Earlier, police doubled the number of FRU personnel and vehicles and Water cannons have doubled. However, FRU have not budged from their location in front of Dataran Merdeka.

2.20pm: Barbwire barricade at Jalan Raja Laut forcibly removed by protesters, despite Bar Council urging them to stand down. A DAP advises crowd to remain seated at same location in front of the police block at Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar, next to Bar Council building, until 4pm - "If you enter Dataran, no law will protect you. Our advice is, remain seated here. Do not try to enter Dataran" Crowd at Masjid Jamek observe a minute's silence in remembrance of Anuar Baharuddin, who passed away at the last Bersih rally. They then sing Negaraku.

2.15pm: Ambiga is addressing the crowd at Majid Jamek

2.04pm: PKR deputy president Azmin Ali addresses crowd sitting in front of Dataran. He asks, "Do you want to enter Dataran?" Crowd shouts back yes. Azmin says "Dataran does not belong to DBKL"

2pm: Protesters from Central Market, led by Ambiga, join up with protesters assembled near Masjid Jamek, the closest they can get to Dataran Merdeka. The crowd at Masjid Negara has started march towards Dataran Merdeka via Pasar Seni. Crowd is led by Opposition leaders.

1.59pm: PKR's Nurul Izzah is addressing the Masjid Jamek crowd.

1.56pm: Opposition leaders Tony Pua and Nurul Izzah Anwar have joined the rally at Masjid Jamek, together with some of the Bersih steering committee members.

1.45pm: Protesters begin their march from Central Market to Dataran Merdeka. They are led by Ambiga and other Bersih and Pakatan leaders.

Protesters sit down in front of the police block at Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar, next to Bar Council building, still singing and chanting Bersih slogans. 1.30pm: Bersih 3.0 chairman S. Ambiga tells crowd at Central Market that march to Dataran Merdeka will begin at

1.45pm; crowd from Masjid Negara to march after Zohor prayers. Ambiga says they will not breach the barricade, will march as far as the authorities will allow, and proceed with their sit-in protest wherever they stop. Jalan Sultan crowd has reached and stopped at Bar Council building area chanting Bersih slogans here, chanting "buka pintu". They are from moving any further by the police. Some Muslim supporters at Masjid Jamek perform prayers outside the mosque's front yard.

1.23pm: Protestors at Dataran throw plastic bottles at police trucks passing by, heading to Jalan Parlimen roundabout. Crowd jeers.

1.20pm: FRU personnel have re-grouped at Dataran Merdeka. Water canon trucks also on standby there. Muslims protestors gathered at Masjid Negara enter mosque to perform prayers.

1.15pm: Two police black Marias that have been stationed near the Masjib Jamek LRT station all morning have moved towards Dataran Merdeka.

1.19pm: Thousands of rally participants stop their chants of 'Bersih' and 'Stop Lynas' as Zohor prayers heard from Masjid Jamek.

1:15pm: Crowd from Jalan Sultan has flowed into Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, road is filled with people walking slowly and peacefully chanting slogans from time to time. 1pm: Massive crowd at Masjid Jamek, now that the groups from Jalan Sultan and Himpunan Hijau group have arrived. Street is jampacked with human beings. DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has arrived at Central Market. Police have sounded a second warning bell, warning the crowd around Dataran Merdeka. The demonstrators remain defiant. 12.51p

m: A group of FRU personnel gathered at the Jalan Parlimen roundabout have rung their warning bell. A group of demonstrators are standing their ground.

12.51pm: A police helicopter hovers low over Central Market, as hundreds more protesters stream in to the area. It momentarily drowns out protesters' chants and cheers then moves on. Organisers tell crowd not to cause any provocation during the rally.

12.50pm: More groups from different locations have made their way to Masjid Jamek.

12.48pm: Crowd spills over at Central Market as more supporters arrive from Brickfields.

12.40pm: The crowd from Sogo reaches Jalan Parlimen and merges with the group there. Cheers and chants grow louder. Bersih supporters taking their lunch break at a mamak restaurant at KTM station. 12.39pm: A detachment of more than a hundred policemen in uniform start to walk towards the Jalan Parlimen roundabout from Jalan Raja Laut.

12.37pm: Two paragliders fly over Central Market sending the crowd into a cheering frenzy.

12.35pm: A large crowd marches from Masjid Negara heads towards the road to Dataran Merdeka but stopped by a police blockade. The crowd returns to the mosque area.

Opposition leader Datuk Anwar Ibrahim, who arrived earlier, tells crowd they will move towards Dataran Merdeka after Zohor prayers. Former Umno veteran leader Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang are among those at Masjid Negara.

12.28pm: Crowd at Sogo begin marching to Dataran Merdeka through Jalan TAR. Police continue to retreat.

12.18pm: Water cannon spotted along with several FRU buses and trucks along Jalan Raja in front of Dataran Merdeka. Crowd remains seated at the Jalan Parlimen-Jalan Raja intersection. Large crowd seated along the whole of Jalan Tun Perak.

12.17pm: PAS' Unit Amal is leading the crowd from Brickfields to Dataran merdeka.

1215pm: Crowd from Little India has joined up with another crowd gathering in front of YMCA in Brickfields.

12.10pm: A large group walking from the direction of KLCC have joined up with crowd at Sogo. The few shops which were open in the area have closed their shutters in anticipation of trouble. A few leaders of the crowd are trying to negotiate with police. Police retreat. Loud cheers are heard. The crowd sits down at the Sogo traffic intersection and continues to chant.

12:10pm: Crowd from Jalan Sultan has began walking towards Dataran Merdeka.

12.04pm: Bersih supporters causing traffic crawl as the crowd moves from Jalan Tun Sambathan to Dataran Merdeka. Police are controlling the traffic. Users say phone networks are congested and data services are becoming limited in the Masjid Jamek LR area.

12.03pm: Shutters of Central Market have come down to keep out protesters gathered in front and around the iconic building.

12pm: Former Perak MB Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin arrives at Central Market, wearing a yellow Bersih 3.0 collared t-shirt.

Bersih supporters who gathered at Brickfields have started moving towards Dataran. Among those in the crowd are Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran and former Perak Pakatan Rakyat speaker V. Sivakumar.

11.55am: Crowd at Central Market told by rally organisers via loud hailer that they will assemble and do nothing until 2pm, when Bersih 2.0 leaders are expected to decide on their sit-in venue.

11:50am: Jalan Sultan crowd instructed to move to Dataran Maybank, slowly moving out from Jalan Sultan to Jalan Pudu now.

11.46am: Big crowd gathers at Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock in front of Central Market shouting Bersih chants.

11.45am: Protesters marching from KLCC in green shirts shouting 'Stop Lynas' have merged with the Masjid Jamek crowd at the Jalan Tun Perak-Jalan Hang Lekiu. The Jalan Tun Perak crowd reach Central Market, blocking off the road as they join supporters gathered at Central Market. Their arrival was marked by loud cheers and applaud, and chants of "Hidup Rakyat!" and "Reformasi!" Crowd getting louder and holding up banners at police barrier near Sogo. Police keeping a close eye.

Some of the crowd gather in front of the barricade along Jalan Parlimen-Jalan Raja intersection and watch as about 30 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel with batons and shields march in the distance toward the barricade. Police say items found outside Dayabumi were not explosives.

11.40am: Crowd gathers in front of Bar Council, near the barb-wire barricade leading to Dataran Merdeka. Also there are Occupy Dataran protestors who previously camped in the square for the past two weeks. Jalan Sultan crowd is growing; people are cheering, chanting Bersih slogans and holding up banners. At least 3 helicopter seen circling the area. Himpunan Hijau members have started a sit-down protest along Jalan Tun Perak, just outside Menara Maybank.

11.36am: Some Bersih supporters holding up yellow Angry Birds balloons while gathering at Brickfields.

11.35am: Little pieces of paper on what to do if arrested are distributed to Bersih supporters.

11.30am: The crowds have started to move towards the Masjid Negara. They were told to do so by PAS' Unit Amal personnel. Meanwhile the crowd gathered at Jalan Parlimen-Jalan Raja waves at a low hovering police helicopter. The group of marchers from Masjid Jamek have stopped at Jalan Tun Perak-Jalan Hang Lekiu intersection and proceeded to sit down and continue chanting. They start singing Negaraku.

11.26am: A group of Bar Council members are gathered nearby the Little India fountain in Brickfields to observe the situation here.

11.25am: Azmin Ali walking with some through Masjid India to Dataran. Anti-Lynas group to Pudu Central and chanting slogans.

11.24am: A police helicopter has been hovering above Central Market and nearby assembly points for the last 10 minutes, as protesters go about their business while waiting for further instructions from the movement's leadership.

11.22am: More supporters moving into Central Market, coming in from Brickfields and KL Sentral direction.

11.20am: PKR's Azmin Ali seen wearing Bersih t-shirt among the crowd in front of Sogo.

11.19am: Crowd growing at Little India, in yellow t-shirts and ready to move to Dataran Merdeka.

11.18am: Atmosphere at Central Market calm now as supporters seen going in for lunch.

11.15am: Crowd applauds a group of marchers, led by Selangor speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim and start chanting Bersih Bersih, as the group marches by Masjid Jamek LRT station.

11.05am: Supporters crowd the front of the stage at Central Market to snap pictures of Ambiga and other leaders from the movement. A few of them start singing Inilah Barisan Kita. The anti-Lynas group from KLCC is heading towards Jalan Pudu, roads cleared for them. A group of about a hundred students from the Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia group has joined the main crowd gathered at the Jalan Parlimen-Jalan Raja intersection. The group came through Jalan Raja Laut chanting Bersih slogans. The crowd is starting to swell here.

10.57am: More than a thousand have gathered outside the barricade at Jalan Parlimen- Jalan Raja intersection. Crowds are constantly chanting bersih slogans. Police presence has increased as well with cops stationed at the barricade as well as at the Jalan Parlimen roundabout.

11.00am: Himpunan Hijau members prevented from going further up to Jalan Ampang and are proceeing towards Jalan P Ramlee.

10.55am: Protesters at KLCC are marching from Jalan Ampang to Jalan P. Ramlee. The crowd has swelled.

Main crowd still infront of police barrier at Sogo. Many bypassing barrier by going through Masjid India to reach Dataran Merdeka. Police are not stopping them. 10.54am: The crowd assembled in front of Central Market converge at the stage in the parking lot, holding up their hands and making 428 symbols while chanting pro-Bersih slogans with Ambiga and other leaders from the movement.

10.51am: Central Market packed with Bersih supporters now. Crowds cheering Ambiga on.

10.50am: A small band of supporters wearing yellow seen tying up banners to lamp posts near the Little India fountain, Brickfields. Police are nearby watching. They are chanting "hidup hidup rakyat. Bersih bersih bangkit rakyat." Crowd at Sogo has started chanting slogans.

10.45am: Bersih 3.0 organising chairman Datuk S. Ambiga giving a press conference at Central Market. Protestors blocking one side of Jalan Ampang. Several anti-Lynas leaders are giving speeches. Vehicles cannot get through.

10.43am: A large crowd of people wearing Bersih t-shirts make their way to Jalan Sultan after assembling in front of the Central Market LRT station.

10.35am: Himpunan Hijau and Bersih 3.0 demonstrators at KLCC have started walking, believed to be towards the Australian Embassy.

10.40am: Police are tweeting that eight objects believed to be explosives found outside Menara Dayabumi.

10.36am: Carnival-like atmosphere as a group of Bersih 3.0 supporters with musical instruments spur on a crowd gathered around Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin and Jalan Tan Cheng Lock. Scores of policemen keeping close watch along with Hospital Kuala Lumpur emergency med services team.

10.35am: Policemen linking arms at the barricade in front of the crowd at Sogo.

10.30am: Growing crowd around Jalan Petaling. Most milling around, some chanting "Bersih".

10.15am: A few shops around Sogo opening for business. However, most shops are still closed. The crowd in front of the police barrier here is slowly growing.

10.10am: People are starting to sit down beside the barricade was set up at Jalan Tun Perak to prevent protesters from entering Dataran Merdeka. As they sit, the group is chanting "duduk" (sit). Police still remain stationed behind barricade while Bersih's crowd control personnel present to maintain order amonsgt sit in protestors.

10.05am: Police are cordoning off Sogo entrances with red and white tape. Only the main entrance is open, with policemen guarding it. The crowd in front of Dataran Merdeka, already sitting, are entertaining each other with "magic tricks." One guy takes a lighter and slides it along his arm but he's not hurt. Crowd cheers and laughs.

10am: Very lively and happy crowd at Jalan Sultan. A group is making music with sticks, pails and plastic bottles and marching down the road while others cheer them on.

9.55am: Increased police presence around the Little India fountain at Brickfields in anticipation of gathering of Bersih 3.0 supporters. No road closure around KL Sentral area.

9.45am: Police form three lines blocking Lebuh Pudu (in front of the Bar Council office) but allow people to walk to Dataran Merdeka using the path along the shoplots. Policemen at Sogo taking advantage of the calm to have nasi lemak for breakfast. A small crowd gathers about 50m in front of the police barrier at Sogo. Some wearing yellow t-shirts.

9.44am: A crowd at Petaling Street has broken out in protest chants and songs in at least two groups. One group of mothers for Bersih leads boisterous cheers in support of Bersih and against Lynas.

9.30am: Crowd at Masjid Jamek gathers around a small drum ensemble, singing the song "Stand Up For Your Rights".

9.24am: OCBC bank building beside the Masjid Jamek LRT station sealed off to the public with red and white tape.

9.21am: Police gathered in front of the Bar Council have blocked off the road behind Central Market towards Dataran. Pockets of supporters moving towards their direction and stopping in front of the police.

9.20am: RapidKL buses are sending passengers to the closest LRT stations (not into the city) as some roads are closed.

9.16am: Police vehicles have been arriving at Sogo since 8am. At least 10 trucks and three buses so far.

9.15am: Groups of demonstrators begin to sit down in the middle of the Jalan Parlimen-Jalan Raja intersection. A crowd of Bersih supporters seen buying LRT tokens at KL Sentral, some to Central Market, others to Masjid Jamek. Some members of Himpunan Hijau at KLCC pose for pictures with policemen.

9.09am: A crowd is chanting in front of the police barricade blocking the entrance to Dataran Merdeka at Jalan Raja. Among them are supporters wearing green in support of the anti-Lynas group. Police keep a close eye.

9.06am: A small group of supporters arrive at Central Market with drums, tambourines and placards in tow. Supporters already in the area crowd around the group, cheering them on and appreciating the morning entertainment.

9.05am: Himpunan Hijau members have assembled at the KLCC entrance, Jalan Ampang, with curious onlookers in their midst.

9am: A crowd in yellow t-shirts have gathered here. Volunteers are selling yellow "Angry Birds" balloons to the public. Written on the balloons are "Clean Elections" "Stop Lynas" "Bersih 428" and "Save Our Children". They are selling the balloons with a yellow recycled bag and a towel for RM20. Police personnel standing in rows at the blockade at Sogo, forming a human barrier to stop any from passing.

8.59am: Police have set up a strong presence at Central Market, with easily over 150 officers split into several groups stationed around the premises. A police helicopter hovers over the area in an otherwise peaceful morning.

8.50am: A group of Bersih 3.0 supporters have assembled in front of the Pasar Seni LRT station, cheering passers-by who gave words of support and encoragement. Only a handful of police officers were so far seen patrolling the area. Another crowd of supporters have gradually gathered in front of main entrance of Jalan Raja at the police barricade. Dressed in yellow shirts and bandanas, they occassionally chant reformasi, among others.

8.51am: Traffic has started to build up on some roads leading towards the city centre, where Dataran Merdeka is. The Federal Highway has been congested from the Mid Valley intersection up to the Putra University station from 8am as motorists encounter road blocks, which were set up around the Dataran Merdeka at midnight. Other major roads in the city relatively clear.

8.50am: Increased police presence at the KLCC's Jalan Ampang. There are eleven trucks parked with about 500 policemen. Some of them are carrying food and water out of the trucks. A few yellow shirts are seen around Sogo.

8.45am: Police starting to gather at Central Market. Calm atmosphere at Masjid Negara. Supporters are sitting around, chatting amongst them. A supporter tells reporters more are on the way.

8.30am: Police have blocked entry into the city via Jln Syed Putra; both from Federal Highway and Jalan Klang Lama. Jam building up on Federal Highway. KL Sentral bustling with people going about with their daily activities, unperturbed with the expected gathering of Bersih 3.0 supporters at nearby Jalan Brickfields. The large crowd can be attributed to the fact that it is a long weekend with Tuesday being Workers Day. Many were seen carrying bags to make their way back to their hometowns or holiday destinations. No Bersih supporters have gathered at Jalan Brickfields. Calm atmosphere at Central Market, with pockets of supporters wearing yellow T-shirts all around the area. Police presence not heavy with only a group of Rela members and several police officers around. No police trucks in the area. Himpunan Hijau stages a brief sit-down at the KLC park entrance, shouting anti-Lynas slogans. Kelana Jaya LRT service running smoothly amidst conflicting claims and reports of service disruption, including the alleged closure of the Kelana Jaya station. Heavy police presence at Sogo; Jalan TAR at Sogo, leading to Dataran has been sealed off. At least 100 uniformed policemen here.

8.20am: Two lorry selling food and tidbits parked at Masjid Negara for those who want to grab a quick breakfast. A sign says Masjid Negara is closed to non-Muslim tourists Saturday. On normal circumstances, the mosque is open from 9am to 12pm from Monday to Sunday.

7.57am: A small crowd of Himpunan Hijau protestors can be seen at the KLCC park.

7.50am: Very heavy police presence at the entrance of KLCC, Jalan Ampang. No sign of any demonstrators. Dataran Merdeka was declared out of bounds to the public for 72 hours, from Friday morning, ahead of the planned Bersih 3.0 rally Saturday afternoon. A magistrate's court issued the order to this effect Thursday night. The court order is being displayed on an electronic billboard at Dataran Merdeka. Other areas covered under the court order include Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Raja and Jalan Kelab. The order prevents organisers of Bersih 3.0 and people from gathering at the historic square. The organisers say they will abide by the court order but insist the gathering will go on as planned. Anti-Lynas group Himpunan Hijau has also stated its intention to hold a rally, protesting the setting up of a rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang.

The night before Bersih 3.0

2012-04-28T01:25:00.003-07:00

Vernacular school issue will cost MCA, say Chinese associations

2012-04-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

Attendees jeer at Wee (centre) during the Chinese educationists rally in Kajang, March 25, 2012

MCA risks a worse showing at the coming polls than in 2008 for its poor handling of the vernacular school issue, warned one of Malaysia’s largest groupings of Chinese associations.

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) said the party would likely secure even fewer votes in the coming election for failing to ensure Chinese vernacular primary schools were treated fairly by Putrajaya.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin accused Chinese educationists today of telling “big lies” for claiming the government had sidelined Chinese vernacular schools for decades.

KLSCAH secretary-general Stanley Yong said he had “a strong feeling” that MCA would be rejected by voters, judging from the hostile reception given to MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong at a rally two weeks ago.

Wee, who is deputy education minister, was chased out of the rally after being taunted and jeered by the angry crowd, but not before he was allegedly assaulted by a disgruntled protester.

The rally was organised by the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) to protest the shortage of qualified Chinese school teachers in the national education system.

“They were saying that MCA, to them, was totally irrelevant... I think the rejection of the MCA in the government is actually on the increasing side,” Yong told The Malaysian Insider.

MCA suffered its worst outing at the polls in 2008, which saw its representation in Parliament slashed by half — to 15 seats from 31. The Barisan Nasional (BN) founding party performed no better at state level, only managing to clinch 31 seats.

Yong pointed out that despite having many ministers in Cabinet since independence, MCA has been unable to shift Putrajaya’s policies on Chinese primary schools even after the Chinese community had raised issue repeatedly.

This would “naturally” lead the Chinese to blame the party, especially the MCA politician holding the deputy education minister portfolio traditionally given to the party, he said.

“Since he is Chinese, and since the Chinese community is suffering, and since the Chinese deputy minister of education understands this and yet has done nothing about it, obviously the anger will be poured on him,” he added.

Yong warned that there was little time left for MCA to change tack with polls looming but said the party could still salvage some support from the community by proposing long-term plans to resolve the problems faced by Chinese schools.

MCA must do this even if it meant using the party’s own resources and not those of the federal government if the party wants “to bring down the anger and the feeling of dissatisfaction” felt by Chinese voters, he said.

But he stressed that this was just a stop-gap measure, and that Putrajaya would eventually have to treat Chinese primary schools “exactly like” national ones if the BN government were to resolve this long-standing issue.

“The have to view the complaints as an ultimate demand and they should not brush off the complaints as something raised by the opposition...

“This is not only unprofessional, it is also a very childish move,” the KLSCAH secretary-general added.

KLSCAH is the largest umbrella group of Chinese associations in Selangor. Formed 85 years ago, it boasts in excess of 420 members ranging from business councils to athletic societies.