Saturday, July 09, 2011

When Thousands Thronged The City

...with the huge presence of the police's Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) cordoning off entry points to Stadium Merdeka. Now, the organizers can promise you a peaceful march but you and I know that there will always be trouble-makers.

Some say the police acted without any provocation from the protesters. But there were reports that the protesters deliberately defied police orders not to proceed further.

Macam-macam.

Anyway, Ambiga, Anwar, Khairy, Kit Siang and Hadi were all there at the Bersih rally.

And they all got (tear)gassed too. Anwar who was injured earlier as he and his group were evading the police, is (as I am writing this) receiving treatment at Pantai Hospital.

The crowd was huge. They gathered and marched from different points and merged in the city near the Dataran Maybank.

People began gathering in several spots around the city as early as 7am. Policemen and women were seen talking to teenagers, advising them to leave the areas.

As the crowd picked up in numbers and began walking towarsd the city, shouts of "bersih, bersih" could be heard.

There were also shouts of "reformasi" heard.

By afternoon, things got hot and heated....

I did not take part in the Bersih march this time. I did in 2007 - the 10-Eleven march.
Then, it was organized by social/civil rights activists although at the end when the crowd reached Istana Negara, a couple of political leaders emerged to make known their presence and their part in the march. And that was the high point where the memorandum was to be handed to the palace.

This time it is clearly a political rally with political leaders behind it.

The first time, it was held before the 2008 general election. And as you know, five states fell to the opposition.
What a tidal wave!

Anyway, Saturday, for some time now, has been a working day for me, so...

Back to Bersih 2.0 -- there were arrests made today. Some of those arrested were released.

By about 4.30pm, most of the hot spots were cleared of protesters who then headed towards KLCC in the city.

Someone at KLCC got really spooked when she got to know that the protesters were heading there...

Do get your updates online.....and check out twitter...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

its a pity you could not particpate because you would have seen for yourself that it was not a political rally but a genuine movement by malaysians from all walks of life who feel that the elections should be fair and free.

the irony of it also was that it was 1malaysia on show at its best and something that najib should be proud of having accomplished.


jay

Sustainable Living Institute (SAVE) said...

Kalau Bersih 2.0 gagal perlunya Bersih 3.0? Lebih banyak practice-run lebih baik kita menghadapi cabaran. Kali ini usah diulangi kesilapan seperti:

1. Agong hanya tahu PM jalankan pemerintahan negara dengan cekap dan berani. Beliau tidak perlu layani memo. Implikasinya, kalau Agong terpaksa juga memberi arahan bermakna PM tidak pandai buat kerja, kena digantikan.

2. Ex-PM sepatutnya terus tidur kerana beri nasihat pun salah. Dia masih tidak faham kedudukan Agong dan tanggugjawabnya. Sebab itu ia kena lepas jawatan.

3. PM perlu buat keputusan sendiri. Ini hinggakan Agong terpaksa beri keputusan ia cuba tutup malu dengan membenarkan demo diadakan (dalam stadium). Dia tidak faham maksud Agong padahal orang biasa pun tahu. Lepas itu ia kata tak boleh demo.

4. Selepas flip-flop PM kata bapanya penyabar. Rakyat tahu itu bapanya. Kan dah besar tua, masih manja!

5. Tidak sepakat dalam memberi keputusan. PM kata boleh, Menteri itu kata ia pertubuhan haram, Menteri ini kata tidak diluluskan mengguna stadium, polis pun kata begitu. Bermakna maklumat lengkap tidak telus kapada semua pihak dan perbincangan mendalam tidak ada. Adakah PM memandai sahaja dan autocratic?

6. Ramai pihak lepas cakap yang kalanya memanaskan lagi keadaan seperti hendak huru-hara maupun berperang. Cabar mencabar, tentera dah ready, para pesilat dah berselindang, patriot nak berbaju merah ...

7. Melayu lupa bahawa yang hendak bergaduh sesama sendiri, bangsa lain tepuk tangan.

8. Memandangkan pendekatan yang bercelaru mengadapi demo terbaru ini, elok agaknya ada raptai Bersih 3.0 supaya jentera dan persiapan menghadapai apa2 rusuhan lebih kemas. Practice makes perfect.

9. Syabas polis dan FRU kerana dapat menghindari sebarang kecelakaan. Kalau ada yang kena belasah tu biasalah.

EM said...

U didn't take part this time becase u work for the Najib-Mukhriz team now. Last time u were against Pak Lah. It's not because the last event was organised by civil societies.

Farida said...

Defy police order to do what harm?

Why couldn't the police work with the crowd to let them move in an orderly manner and quickly conclude the rally by 4 pm, as they eventually did?

Why must police harm and hurt people with their tear gasses when not at all provoked? When the people did not hurt anyone or even threaten to hurt anyone?

This is the crux of the question, sis.

Given what you stand to lose, your way of seeing things is understandable. I can sympathise with you.

All we can wish is that may Allah SWT enlighten you one day, sis. It's never too late.

Anonymous said...

Please refer to official line about the number of demonstrators..it should be reported as 6.000 only and 1665 people was arrested and do not quote huge crowds less you want to get into trouble with the authorities.

epf said...

Kenapakah kontrak Petronas di bagi hanya kepada anak Mahathir dan Shahril Shamsuddin? Adakah pemimpin UMNO mengizinkan anak Mahathir membolot kontrak Petronas sedangkan EPF adalah pemegang saham kedua2 syarikat. Dimanakah Mohzani Mahathir dapt duit berbilion beli saham jika bukan duit EPF. UMNO patut tetapkan Kontrak Petronas sepatutnya hanya untuk anak syarikat PNB supaya ramai Melayu dapat kongsi keuntungan oil and gas.
Dalam merger anak syarikat ini CIMB atau Nazir Razak untung lagi. Adakah hairan melayu tak peduli UMNO?

Kenapakah kontrak Petronas di bagi hanya kepada anak Mahathir dan Shahril Shamsuddin? Adakah pemimpin UMNO mengizinkan anak Mahathir membolot kontrak Petronas sedangkan EPF adalah pemegang saham kedua2 syarikat. Dimanakah Mohzani Mahathir dapt duit berbilion beli saham jika bukan duit EPF. UMNO patut tetapkan Undang2 perlu supaya kontrak Petronas sepatutnya hanya untuk anak syarikat PNB supaya ramai Melayu dapat kongsi keuntungan oil and gas.
Dalam merger anak syarikat ini CIMB atau Nazir Razak untung lagi. Adakah hairan melayu tak peduli UMNO

Anonymous said...

Dalam akhbar The Star pada 13 Julai) Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi dari UITM ada menulis tentang fungsi Yang Dipertuan Agong terutama sekali peranan yang Baginda mainkan semasa menangani isu Bersih. Saya petik beberapa ayat:

1. Others believe that Tuanku’s grant of an audience to Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, head of an organisation that had been declared illegal by the authorities, went beyond the bounds of constitutional propriety

Komen saya: Tiada masalah langsung kerana Kerajaan sendiri pernah menandatangani satu perjanjian dengan Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) yang bukan sahaja satu pertubuhan haram tetapi juga telah membunuh ratusan ribu rakyat Malaysia. Berapa ramai yang telah Bersih bunuh?

2. Many feared turmoil. Confron-tation appeared imminent.
The Government itself found it necessary to brief the Confe- ren¬ce of Rulers on the impending event.
Many Sultans went out of their way to issue public statements.
And the Yang di-Pertuan Agong found it necessary to don the mantle of a statesman. The nation is the better for it.
Though his advice was not ultimately followed, it seems to have had a calming, restraining effect on both sides.

Komen saya: Rupa-rupanya Kerajaan Najib bagitu panik hingga sampai ke peringkat Majlis Raja-Raja.

Ramai Sultan yang terlampau excited dan membuat pernyataan-pernyataan awam yang agak keterlaluan (ini pandangan Prof Faruqi bukan pandangan saya).

Nasihat Agong tidak dipedulikan oleh Kerajaan/Najib (kata Prof Faruqi lagi)


Pemerhati

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

nazarju,

you must be one of those....oh, never mind.

i took part the last time for many reasons :
1. pak lah's (and I like Pak Lah personally) administration : you know, 4th floor boys, son-in-law yadayada (best left unsaid since it's all in the past)
2. the opposition was the UNDERDOG - PKR (i believe only Dr Wan Azizah was the PKR parliamentarian. And DAP was a near write-off. Pas?
- yes yes - the arrogance of BN.

people like you don't care for reason.
the point is the opposition won FIVE states.
Pak Lah stepped down.

I don't work for the najib-mukhriz team.
Such a simpleton you are.

Way To Go Kak Nur said...

Nuraina is right.

She doesnt work for Najib-Mukhriz.

She works in favour of BN-UMNO as a whole.

Get your facts right, nazarju

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

way to go K N,

you should too..:-)