1.00pm Hooked up with rally mate Mosses (pic) at the KLCC LRT station. For the next 90 minutes we hung out waiting for go ahead to march to Dataran Merdeka. Thankfully the weather for the most part was mild or else we'd be baked. We each volunteered to be flag bearers - and also stuck a lovely ABU (Asalkan Bukan UMNO) sticker on our shirts for good measure.
2.30pm It is 'GO' time and we learn that we are not taking the short route but instead will pass the tourist/shopping area of Jalan Bukit Bintang. Outside Pavillion mall we spotted a red Range Rover Evoque with NN17 plates (see pic).I found out later it belonged to the late Naza founder's youngest daughter Nadia. When you are so powerful you can get away with these illegal fonts.
3.45pm We reach Masjid Jamek and the crowd in front of Dataran is jam-packed so we decided not to squeeze in but instead take a breather in front of the OCBC building. As we were near the front of the KLCC group we got to watch and cheer the rest of the folks passing us. By now my feet hurt quite a bit. After all, 75 minutes of walking for unfit vets like us is a lot.
The rally was largely calm until the end when a bunch of scums calling themselves Anti-Facists attacked the media and lit up magnesium flares. We saw cops at intervals of every 10 meters so it is very fishy that cops were not around to nab these anarchists.The only arrests were non-violent participants. Just search YouTube and you can judge for yourselves.
We had a cup of tea before calling it a day. All in I'd say the turnout was expected as many had holiday plans and therefore did not turn up. The attendance was in the 30,000 plus range. I dream of the day when a million Malaysians turn up for rallies - for now most rather curl up in their cosy homes and let the minority do the 'walking'. UBAH!
I reached home close to 2 am this morning and Nicole was already asleep. I learned from her when I picked her from school that from our home
she saw many people were walking along the NKVE highway near the Kelana toll plaza cheering loudly.
A writer commented that a new generation of Malaysian had emerged and I agree. So many Generation Y youths were out there last night. For me they were spared the crap that was dished out during the Dr M (he resigned in 2003) regime years. Additionally they are empowered by the internet and loosed off the mainstream media that is mostly owned and/or curtailed by this government. I witnessed a people united in spirit. Despite horrendous traffic I did not hear any honking. Despite being squashed in a human sandwich, no one pushed or complained. I am sure there are many out there who have yet to emerge from their comfort zones. I hope they will join us in our march and not just pay lip service. When we can mobilize 100,000 with just three days notice imagine what a tidal wave of millions can accomplish. Time for talking is over! We MARCH!
May 9, Kelana Jaya; It's around 8.30pm and my buddy Zech arrives. We depart the cool comfort of the mall for a wet, stuffy but nonetheless exciting time in the stadium. Traffic is choked up as we file past vehicles stuck in the gridlock, chanting all the way - Ubah! Ubah! (Change! Change!). The pace was slow just as it was during Bersih 3.0 due to the multitudes that showed up.
We enter via the east entrance and squeezed our way onto the track as the stands were jam-packed. It's a carnival of sights and sounds. Most were dressed in black tops, some totally black, some in masks and one in Batman costume. We guessed the crowd to be 100,000 but learned today that many could not enter and had to listen from outside. About 120,000 people turned up to support. Fantastic!
The audience lapped up everything each speaker dished out. The cheers grew louder as the big names appeared - Mat Sabu (PAS), Lim Kit Siang (DAP), Nurul Izzah (PKR) but the name everyone was waiting for was none other than the charismatic Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim!
Nic's cousins Sammie, Aunt Sherry and cousin Sarah
Anwar closed the rally at around 11.00pm and it took us forty minutes to reach the mall which was just 1.2 km away. The roads were choked up so we decided to go have supper. The first joint was packed with many waiting for a table. We head to the next shop and got a table. Business was so good that they ran out of some drinks and food.
The rally continues and Saturday sees Penang holding a similar rally.
May 8, Kelana Jaya; Like all Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters I was saddened by the General Election (GE13) outcome. It was not that I could not accept defeat but to lose with so many instances of voter manipulation, vote-buying and so on. Many photos and videos were posted online and if the role was reversed you can be sure police would have arrested loads of people.
Seeking solace I swam the ocean of pro-Opposition websites and realized that I was not the only one. Suddenly these Facebook (FB) pages gained 'Likes' and then came the call by PR that a rally would take place in the Kelana Jaya stadium on May 8. The same venue I attended the final GE13 rally on Saturday, May 4. That night around 50,000 supporters attended and it was fantastic. Well, last night about 120,000 angry Malaysians showed their support despite text messages with cloaked warnings of another May 13 if the Chinese showed up. I received a couple of said messages too but common sense told me to stay informed via the official FB pages. As the time neared I admit I still had some concern but anyone who knows me will know I won't back down.
A friend Vincent starts texting me at 4.33pm asking if I was going. After a flurry of texts I told him to go early and park at Paradigm Mall which is just 1.2km away from the site. Despite just staying a few hundred meters from the mall I chose to ride my scooter just in case my back gave way. Well I pulled something the day before and was in a bit a lot of pain.
I parked my scoot and as soon as I reached the mall it was a sea of blackness. Everywhere I looked were mostly young people wearing black. My heart raced. I take the escalator up one level and there are hundreds of people in black. I bet most shops had better than usual sales. Some were waiting for their mates, some were having dinner and some were shopping for ponchos and umbrellas as the rain began to come down - as if some poetic 'rain of tears' for Malaysia thing.
I attended DAP's (Democratic Action Party) fund-raising dinner organized by the Damansara Utama Support Team last night. With the election just around the corner, the opposition needs all the funds they can muster.
We were treated with an array of speakers from DAP and coalition guests Member of Parliament (MP) Khalid Samad of PAS and the eloquent Pakatan Keadilan Rakyat's strategic director Rafizi Ramli. He is most famous for exposing the "cows and condo" scandal. I'd say MP Gobind Singh Deo and MP Rafizi stood out as outstanding orators. However the loudest cheers of the event went to the National Chaiman of DAP, YB Karpal Singh aka The Lion of Jelutong and righty so.
To cut to the chase, the Pakatan Rakyat machinery is ready and is on the way to form the new government of Malaysia!
Update: Jan 19, 2013 After attending DAP's Fundraising Dinner last night - attendance for KL112 although claimed to be as low as 45,000 by the ruling regime was in fact close to 700,000. Most of the people congregated in the fringes of the stadium as shown in this photo which of course skeptics will claim was doctored.
I met Zech at the usual place for breakfast before walking to the train station. Upon reaching the station around 11.30 am we could see the absence of a crowd that we saw at last year's Bersih 3.0 rally.
(above) Parti Islam Se-Malaysia aka PAS Amal youths are a disciplined lot.
As the train stopped at the following stations more people got on but still not the size we witnessed last April. We arrived at Pasar Seni (Central Market) station and waited for link up with Mosses. From here we walked to the Jalan Sultan staging area. Yep, definitely less people turning up. Why? One reason is the fear of a repeat of the police tear-gassing protesters especially if it happened in a packed stadium. But I guess it is just excuses as friends I spoke to say it does not concern them. I suppose they are a contented lot.
Police presence was minimal this time and we arrived at the Jalan Sultan/Hang Jebat junction watching and cheering as more citizens filed onto the narrow street. After spending an hour or so we headed up towards the stadium. Check out the crowd (above). Conclusion is the rally was peaceful as the riot police did not assemble and suspected agent provocateurs were absent thus the chaos of April 2012 did not recur. So just over 100,000 people participated but the ruling regime would be foolish to think the cause has run out of steam. This is likely the last rally before the much anticipated elections. I hope the people have the courage to vote the opposition into power. Bangkit Rakyat!
Today is the eve of what may turn out to be a momentous day for Malaysia. Everyone is wondering when the 13th General Elections will be and your guess is as good as mine. The ruling regime and opposition has been trading all sorts of rhetoric for the past few years and it has come to this final showdown.
The organizers are calling for one million citizens to come out tomorrow. Tall order most would think but I say it is not impossible. I attended Bersih 3.0 and over 200,000 people flooded the streets. This time around the police are not threatening us to stay away but we still have to be cautious as we have seen some ugly confrontations before by unidentifiable thugs. So I'll get the necessary gear ready.
I did not mention this incident after last year's Bersih 3.0 but I was very close (5 meters away, near the OCBC bank) to this chap who was struck by a tear gas canister fired at a very deadly trajectory - straight line. So one never knows what to expect but expect the unexpected. Click for video.
April 28 - 428 9.30am Drove to meeting point in SS2. My buddy Zech comes by and we head to Sea Park to join up with two more comrades, Dennis and Ong, both 'veterans' of Bersih 2.0
10.28am After a light breakfast (big mistake as we did not manage to have lunch later) we walked 1km to the Paramount Light Rail Transit (LRT) station.
10.39am Surprise, surprise! Ong explained last July they were frisked by cops at the station and that protesters were a dozen or so. This morning we had about hundred plus filing past the 'gate'. Along the eight stops more people jumped in and it was sardines.
11.00am We alight at Pasar Seni (Central Market) and saw the first icon, A. Samad Said (pic).
11.15am Now we wait! Target is to march at 1.30pm. Two more chaps joined us, Adrian and Khalid.
1.30pm After over two hours of singing and chanting we were ready to march! Well as we were in the mid section of the congregation we only got moving at 1.40pm. Such was the size of the rally.
3.22pm It has been almost 60 minutes and we only reached HSBC bank in Lebuh Ampang as the front-liners were stopped at the Tun Perak/Masjid Jamek junction. Khalid decided to call it a day and left. Zech turns to me and said the same to which I replied, "I didn't wait over three hours for this. Let's go to the front!" He nodded in agreement and both of us squeezed our way to the front line, a mere 200 meters.
3.25pm We are now at the entrance of Menara OCBC (Jalan Melayu) 6 meters away from the regular cops and riot cops. I could sense a fight and seconds later the first volleys of plastic water bottles were launched at the cops. The plain clothed cops could have simply arrested the few 'bottle-throwers' but they allowed it to happen thus giving them the excuse to launch their assault. Cops replied with a few tear gas canisters that landed 200 meters away and the cops charged at their prey. I say so cos they were already eying their quarry minutes before and a young man just 4 meters from me who was cursing the cops was bundled to the ground and subdued by two cops. A third cop promptly kicked him and a fourth sent a well aimed elbow in his face. By now I was running into Jalan Melayu and a kind soul was hosing us with water from the upper floor of a building.
3.27pm I took this video after my first gas attack. It stings! First your eyes hurt like hell and tears start oozing. Then my throat feels on fire. Coughing and spitting and rinsing with water and I'm okay within a couple of minutes. Note the debris (below) after the first charge - personal effects like shoes, towels litter the street.
3.33pm The people are regrouping and I make my way to the front again. The crowd keeps chanting and we know it is a matter of time before they fire another salvo at us. Pop! Pop! Pop! More gas! (Below) I have retreated into Jalan Melayu and you can see the gas on Jalan Tun Perak. Riot police are on the right and a canister can be seen hurled back by a protester from the left.
4.03pm I got separated from Zech after the first charge and by now he has had enough and was on the train heading home. I said I'd hang around a bit and will meet him in PJ. I just could not walk away from this - we need to hold the line. This video (below) shows the group in total defiance and chanting 'Bersih Bersih!' We press on.
4.33pm Damn! My watch stopped! I hate wearing one so this is like a once a year affair for me. My old Swatch can't take water. By now my left sole was starting to cramp - time to retreat. I got gassed two or three more times before I walked along Jalan Melaka into Tun H.S. Lee. There a cool looking Caucasian dude was holding a large plastic bag and handing out mineral water. I promptly asked for one and thanked him. I walked towards Lebuh Ampang/Tun Perak for my finale. This video shows the riot cops charging and I figure I'd better get a head start running on one good leg. You can hear the scum banging their shields for psychological effect - like watching Mel Gibson's Braveheart.
4.55pm The cops had by now taken back a few blocks of the city and I had to take the scenic path to the LRT station. I boarded the train at 5.00pm
5.22pm Got off the train and still a kilometer to walk to our meeting spot. Four of us sat down for drinks and we all agreed that Bersih 4.0 will happen and this time the cops will e in for a rude surprise.
The mainstream media paints the rally as violent but having spent six hours on the ground and at one of the 'hot' spots I have to say the cops with their undercover personnel could have apprehended the few troublemakers at the start. The fact that they did not makes everyone suspect that they were more likely agent provocateurs. Well the police sure took the opportunity to belasah (bash) up news crew and citizens.
In conclusion, I am encouraged by the better than expected turnout. I think we hoped for 100,000 but we got over twice that number. For me, seeing so many youths out there is heartwarming. I'd say over 50% were teens and under 30s. Sure there were a few old folks (like me) - I saw this frail old man walking alone with the aid of a quad walking cane. HIDUP BERSIH!
You cried when you heard daddy was going to the city for a rally even though you did not understand what it was all about. You wanted to join me but it is no place for a child to be. Many years from now when you are old enough you will understand. You have a strong will and whatever you political inclination may be I will respect it. I only hope that you HAVE one.
Some folks say politics is not their problem but it is a fact that almost everything that happens around is a result of politics. Like why the hell we pay more than some of our neighboring countries for automobiles! Protectionism, lop-sided agreements of public works projects and on and on.
Anyway back to the rally. I believe over the years more Malaysians are emboldened by the determination, courage and sacrifices shown by some of the leaders of NGOs. All the big guns out today will be harassed and targeted for arrest. I merely have the simple task of uprooting my butt from this chair and joining the rally.
Saturday: Malaysian police have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of people gathering to demonstrate against a security law allowing detention without trial. Hundreds of police officers were awaiting the protesters as they arrived at three rallying points in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, for the banned demonstration on Saturday. "There was no violent confrontation coming from the protesters but they were tear-gassed and dispersed," Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said."They tried to meet again near a department store and were tear-gassed again there and water cannon were fired.
"They have been swiftly and pretty heavily dealt with."
Witnesses said police charged at the protesters with batons.
About 20,000 protesters took part in the protests in three different areas, the Star newspaper and Malaysiakini news Web site reported.
Witnesses said police charged at the protesters with batons. About20,000 protesters took part in the protests in three different areas, the Star newspaper and Malaysiakini news Web site reported. Full report here
Ordinarily I'd not include political events in this blog but I have decided to do so for Nicole's benefit. I watched the news on Al-Jazeera at 2 pm and was surprised to hear that a massive crowd had turned up. After the recent rally at the MBPJ stadium right after the Teoh Beng Hock incident which drew a rather small crowd I thought people power was losing steam. Well how about this for size!
+11.09am+A.+Samad.JPG)
+Datuk+Seri+Ir.+Mohammad+Nizar+Jamaluddin.JPG)