Bersih 3.0: Politicizing the Apolitical in Malaysia Written & Photographed by Nile Bowie

SUNDAY, 29 APRIL 2012

Bersih 3.0: Politicizing the Apolitical in Malaysia

Written & Photographed by Nile Bowie

Protests rocked the streets of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, April 28, as an estimated 25,000 people took to the streets in support of Bersih [1], an organization fighting to reform the nation’s electoral system. The organization refers to itself as ‘The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections’, comprised of 84 Malaysian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that form a ‘coalition of like minded civil society organizations unaffiliated to any political party’ [2]. The recent rally follows two previous mass demonstrations in November 2007 and July 2011, as organizers renew their demands for the Malaysian Election Commission to resign before the 13th General Elections scheduled for June 2012 [3]. Although the coalition claims to be devoid of political affiliation, the movement is fully endorsed by Malaysia’s main opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat political coalition he oversees.

Following documented cases of United States-based organizations funding pro-opposition civil society groups associated with civil unrest in Russia [4] and the Middle East [5], Chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan acknowledged that the Bersih coalition received financial support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and George Soros’ Open Society Institute (OSI) [6]. An article published in the New York Times entitled "U.S. Groups Helped Nurture Arab Uprisings" reveals organizations such as the National Democratic Institute receive funding from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a recipient of funds directly from the US Congress [7]. The Bersih Coalition has also received support from the US-based Freedom House [8], an NGO that receives direct funding from the US State Department [9]. While concern over electoral corruption and the various legitimate grievances of Bersih supporters may be entirely justified, the coalition’s association with opposition Political parties and groups financed by the United States government suggests subversion.

Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammed has warned that the ruling Barisan Nasional party is targeted for regime change due to its stance on Israel and criticism of US policy, while condemning Anwar Ibrahim for his close ties to Paul Wolfowitz and other adherents of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) [10]. Furthermore, Mahathir has accused the United States of using currency manipulation and US-funded NGOs to orchestrate the kind of destabilization needed to install a compliant proxy government [11]. Dr. William Robinson explains the subversive methods of conducting regime change through “democracy promotion” in his book, ‘Promoting Polyarhcy,’ “In Latin America, in Eastern Europe with the Velvet Revolutions, in Africa, in the Middle East, really all over the world, the U.S. set up these different mechanisms now for penetrating these civil societies in the political systems of countries that are going to be intervened and to assure the outcome is going to be pleasing to Washington's foreign policy objectives” [12].

Eva Golinger, a researcher who has been investigating the democracy promotion efforts of the United States offers, “Millions and millions of U.S. tax payer dollars go every year into funding for political organizations and campaigns in different countries in the world that promote US agenda. Most U.S. citizens are unaware of the fact that that is how their money is being spent, to meddle, and to influence and to interfere in other nation’s affairs” [13]. While the demands of the Bersih coalition appear to be coherent and apolitical, the convergence of its leadership with the opposition political establishment provides Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysia's opposition front Pakatan Rakyat with the means to mobilize demonstrators under the benign common cause of “clean and fair elections.” The initial Bersih demonstration in 2007 has become widely credited for Pakatan Rakyat’s record gains in the 2008 Malaysian elections, where the opposition coalition usurped power in five states and won 82 parliamentary seats [14].

Anwar Ibrahim served as Deputy Prime Minster from 1993 to 1998 under the administration of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad; the pair disagreed on the utilization of recovery methods during the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis, leading to Ibrahim’s dismissal. While Mahathir introduced sovereign currency controls on the Malaysian ringgit to prevent currency speculation, Ibrahim denounced Mahathir’s economic policies and portrayed himself as a freedom fighter for the free market [15]. Following his stint as Deputy Prime Minister, Ibrahim served as Chairman of the Development Committee of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1998, while appearing on the payroll of Dick Cheney’s Foundation for the Future and George Soros’ International Crisis Group [16]. Furthermore, Anwar Ibrahim served as a panelist at the National Endowment for Democracy's "Democracy Award" [17].

The Bersih coalition has rejected a raft of reforms announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, including the establishment of parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms and amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act following widespread condemnation of Putrajaya’s crack down on July 2011’s Bersih 2.0 rally from the international press [18]. The heavy-handed conduct of Malaysian security officials has worked to further strengthen international condemnation of Malaysia’s nationalist regime, as well as alienating the well-intentioned participants of Bersih rallies. Unlike the Bersih rally in July 2011, the recent demonstrations provoked armed clashes between protestors and police with cases of violence on both sides. Although police barricaded the area surrounding Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) where the rally was scheduled to take place, violence was not used until demonstrators attempted to cross police barricades into the Square.  

The security situation deteriorated as defiant protesters refused to disperse, prompting demonstrators to overturn a police vehicle [19]. Protesters and black-shirted police officials threw broken bottles, pieces of metal and concrete slabs towards each other, prompting police to fire tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators, causing hundreds to disperse into side streets [20]. While footage of the recent police crackdown circulates throughout international media, Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional party is again the subject of international criticism. As public discontent grows with the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak, the unpopularity of the Malaysian ruling party has set the stage for the victory of Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition. As the United States shifts its military focus to the Pacific Region, Anwar Ibrahim’s adherence to western political institutions will likely warrant the continued nurturing of unrest in Malaysia until the opposition successively usurps power.

Malaysian Riot Police near Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) maintained the security situation without the use of force until several demonstrators attempted to take the area.

Supporters of Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition march on side streets with banners calling on people to reject dirty elections. 

Red-shirt supporters of pro-opposition security unit Jabatan Amal form human chain in a commercial district of Kuala Lumpur.

Demonstrators hold banners calling on Malaysians to reject the perceived corruption of the electoral system. 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim fully endorses Bersih, an organization that claims to hold no affiliation with any political party.

Crowds cheer as demonstrators invert a photograph of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Bersih supporters sit behind police barricades outside of Dataran Merdeka.    

Jabatan Amal supporters stand near the barbed wire barricades setup by Police, preventing demonstrators from entering the historic Dataran Merdeka. 

Riot police fire tear gas to disperse protestors attempting to take Dataran Merdeka, causing Bersih supporters to take refuge in the nearby City Hall complex. 

Protesters pray in the historic Masjid Jamek Mosque as Riot Police fire tear gas and surround the complex to prevent demonstrators from exiting. 

Medical teams rush to the scene to provide assistance to injured people and those who experienced adverse effects from tear gas. 

Commercial areas of downtown Kuala Lumpur littered with damaged property and personal belongings following the initial dispersal of protestors into side streets toward the Sogo district. 

Malaysian Police have reportedly detained at least 388 Bersih supporters.  

Notes:

[1] Police violence marks Malaysia reform rally, Al Jazeera, April 28, 2012

[2] Bersih About, BERSIH 2.0 [OFFICIAL] Facebook

[3] Ibid

[4] Emails expose watchdog's dollar deals, Russia Today, December 9, 2011

[5] U.S. Groups Helped Nurture Arab Uprisings, The New York Times, April 14, 2011

[6] Bersih repudiates foreign Christian funding claim, The Malaysian Insider, June 27, 2011

[7] U.S. Groups Helped Nurture Arab Uprisings, The New York Times, April 14, 2011

[8] Freedom House Calls on Malaysian Authorities to Allow Free Assembly, Freedom House, 2012

[9] Freedom House: Frequently Asked Questions, Freedom House, 2012

[10] REGIME CHANGE, CheDet (Official Blog of Dr. Mahathir Mohammed), February 13, 2012

[11] CURRENCY WARS, CheDet (Official Blog of Dr. Mahathir Mohammed), March 29, 2012

[12] Democracy promotion: America’s new regime change formula, Russia Today, November 18, 2010

[13] Ibid

[14] Bersih repudiates foreign Christian funding claim, The Malaysian Insider, June 27, 2011

[15] The Case of Malaysia, Executive Intelligence Review, July 4, 2008

[16] British Empire Tool to Recolonize Malaysia, Executive Intelligence Review, September 12, 2008

[17] 2007 NED Annual Report, National Endowment for Democracy, 2007

[18] Bersih tarnishes Najib’s reform credentials; say foreign press, The Malaysian Insider, April 29, 2012

[19] Larger Bersih turnout, but violence may play into Umno’s hands, The Malaysian Insider, April 29, 2012

[20] Ibid

Nile Bowie is an independent writer and photojournalist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; he regularly contributes to Tony Cartalucci's Land Destroyer Report and Professor Michel Chossudovsky's Global Research Twitter: @NileBowie  

Penganjuran Perhimpunan di Malaysia dapat sokongan AS

Penganjur dapat sokongan AS  Oleh Meor Hisham Zulkifli

2012/05/03

KUALA LUMPUR: Hubungan penganjur perhimpunan dengan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim serta pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang ada kaitan dengan Kongres Amerika Syarikat (AS), mencetuskan persoalan kemungkinan ada usaha menggunakan pihak asing untuk menumbangkan kerajaan. 

Seorang penulis bebas, Nile Bowie yang menyumbang rencana untuk laman web Global Research yang berpangkalan di Montreal, Kanada, berkata walaupun penganjur perhimpunan, Datuk S Ambiga menegaskan tidak terikat dengan mana-mana parti politik, mereka disokong penuh oleh Anwar yang mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan pelbagai pertubuhan di Amerika.

Katanya, ada pertubuhan yang berpangkalan di AS membiayai kumpulan propembangkang di Russia serta Asia Barat dan Ambiga sendiri pernah mengakui menerima dana daripada National Democratic Institute (NDI) dan Open Society Institute (OSI), pertubuhan yang diketuai George Soros.

“Memetik rencana New York Times bertajuk Kumpulan AS memupuk benih kebangkitan Asia Barat, NDI mendapat dana daripada National Endowment for Democrasy (NED), sebuah pertubuhan yang mendapat dana daripada Kongres AS,” katanya dalam entri terbaru blognya. 

NDI adalah NGO yang aktif memupuk pembaharuan demokrasi dan dipengerusikan bekas setiausaha negara AS, Madeline Albright. 

Nile berkata, penganjur perhimpunan itu turut mendapat sokongan sebuah lagi pertubuhan yang berpangkalan di AS, Freedom House yang mendapat dana langsung daripada Kongres dan pada awal tahun ini mengeluarkan kenyataan mendesak Malaysia membenarkan perhimpunan aman. 

“Meskipun desakan untuk mengatasi kelemahan sistem pilihan raya dan tuntutan lain oleh BERSIH mungkin ada justifikasi, kerjasama kumpulan itu dengan parti politik pembangkang serta kumpulan yang dibiayai AS menggambarkan ada maksud tersirat,” katanya. 
Beliau turut memetik amaran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang menyatakan Barisan Nasional (BN) menjadi sasaran disebabkan pendirian keras kerajaan terhadap Israel dan kritikan terhadap dasar Amerika. 

“Dr Mahathir turut mengecam Anwar yang mempunyai hubungan akrab dengan Paul Wolfowitz (bekas ketua Tabung Mata Wang Antarabangsa IMF), serta pemimpin lain daripada pertubuhan Project for the New American Ventury (PNAC),” katanya. 

Dalam blognya itu, Nile turut memetik Dr William Robinson berhubung gerakan demokrasi menumbangkan kerajaan menerusi buku Promoting Polyarchy yang menyatakan AS membentuk pelbagai pertubuhan berbeza di seluruh dunia untuk menyusup ke dalam sistem politik negara lain bagi memenuhi agenda Washington. 

“Ketika penganjur kelihatan tidak mempunyai kaitan dengan politik, kerjasama pemimpinnya dengan pembangkang jelas bertujuan mengerah peserta demonstrasi di bawah payung besar gerakan pilihan raya bebas dan adil,” katanya.

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Bersih 3.0 rally - Saturday’s violent clashes.

The blame game over the Bersih rally is still going on but among political circles, there is a sense that some sort of tipping point has occurred after Saturday’s violent clashes.

In terms of numbers, Datuk S. Ambiga won big. No one could remember ever seeing such a mammoth crowd demonstrating in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Size matters in politics and the crowd variously cited at between 50,000 to 250,000 had Pakatan Rakyat politicians floating on Cloud Nine and sent chills through the spine of Barisan Nasional leaders.

But days after the Bersih 3.0 protest, the perception is that Ambiga may have also lost big because of the way the protest got out of control and turned violent. It was a nightmare come true and left a bad taste in the mouth of many people for “peaceful protests”. The blame game is still raging, with opposing sides pointing fingers at each other for what happened.

According to Prof James Chin of Monash University Sunway Campus, Saturday was bad for both sides.

Ambiga’s black eye, no thanks to the behaviour of those who turned the event into a melee, gave the impression that Bersih and its Pakatan Rakyat partners are prepared to risk it all to attain power.

“Check the international reporting that day — the key words were rioting, mob, violence. The core message of Bersih was lost,” said Chin.

As for the ruling coalition, said Chin, its black eye is that when there is rioting, it does not matter who starts it, the finger is always pointed at the law enforcers since they are responsible for maintaining law and order.

Ambiga had earlier hinted there could be Bersih 4.0 but she will have trouble convincing Malaysians that she can guarantee a peaceful rally after this.

Besides, she must know that there are many people — more than those who took to the streets on Saturday — who are very angry with her for what has happened. For these people, Malaysia is not Egypt, Najib is not Mubarak, the country is a parliamentary democracy and they do not appreciate scenes of anarchy playing out on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Scenes of yellow-shirted protesters going for the police and the police going for the protesters are still playing out on YouTube. Ambiga has been trying to explain what went wrong, to apportion the blame and basically to do damage control.

She has, however, stopped short of blaming PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and several other PKR leaders for firing up the crowd to break down the barriers and enter Dataran Merdeka despite a court injunction surrounding the area.

There was a great deal of euphoria among the organisers when they declared a turnout of 250,000 people. It was people power on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

But post-Bersih 3.0 has been quite different from post-Bersih 2.0. When people marched in Bersih 2.0, they were marching in the name of clean and fair elections. It was a worthy cause and there was a great deal of sympathy for them even among those who stayed at home.

Since then, the Prime Minister has replaced the ISA with the Peaceful Assembly Act and a Parliamentary Select Committee has recommended sweeping electoral reforms and its report has been tabled in Parlia­ment.

The Government agreed to all but one of the eight demands made by Bersih.

But as some have pointed out, Bersih has since “shifted the goal posts” and imposed new demands and conditions, including the resignation of the current Election Com­mission leadership. These conditions were the basis for Saturday’s show of force.

A few days before the demonstration, many of the allegations about electoral discrepancies made by Bersih advocates were explained by Umno Youth leader and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin at a public debate with Ambiga. Both speakers were very well-prepared with their case but Khairy came out on top because he had really done his homework. but Ambiga and her group were not there to be persuaded or convinced. They were set on another street protest and nothing that Khairy said or argued was going to change her mind.

It was quite apparent that Ambiga had made up her mind that the EC could not be trusted and the group demanded nothing less than the resignation of the EC chairman and its other officials.

It is unclear how the impasse between Bersih and the Government will play out from now till the general election.

The perception is that Bersih’s objectives of clean and fair elections have extended to regime change. Or at least, that is what the political parties, which have lent their numbers and resources to the movement, are after.

But among political circles, there is a sense that some sort of tipping point has occurred after Saturday’s clashes.

The protest has hurt the ruling coalition, especially internationally, but back home, the impression that the Opposition is trying to force its way to Putrajaya via street politics is not going to sit well on the middle-ground voters and they are the ones who will decide the next general election.

saifulfromslim

Ill responsible bersih spirit . people are always the opposite of what they claim. They can be worst if they rule .No way better. the demonstration, do it in the jungle some way far from civilisation and people daily live .Not in the public area where people live peace and harmony or many people come for holidays and disturb peoples business .Bersih should pay the losses of those who come forholiday as their frighten the holiday guys. Is that bersih . more TO KOTOR . The police ve to do what they did if not they will camp in the city. and do what the red did in thailand .. than there will be killing and bombing. better the police take action before it reach that level . prevention is better than cure. actually bersih is just to fit the ego of a few frustrated leaders , families and friends. I'm not saying our government is perfect.

Gaji minimum pada kadar RM900 di Semenanjung, Sabah dan Sarawak RM800 sebulan

G MANIMARAN
30 April 2012

DS Najib Tun Razak

SHAH ALAM - Malaysia akan melaksanakan gaji minimum pada kadar RM900 untuk tenaga kerja di Semenanjung manakala Sabah dan Sarawak pula RM800 sebulan, demikian diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sebentar tadi.

Sambil menyifatkan ia sebagai "hadiah Hari Pekerja", Najib berkata, kadar itu ditetapkan dengan melakukan pengubahsuaian ke atas syor dibuat oleh Majlis Perundingan Gaji Negara.

Pengumuman yang dibuat sempena Hari Pekerja, Najib berkata, kadar itu akan dilaksanakan dalam tempoh enam bulan sejak tarikh ia dikuatkuasakan dan dijangka akan memanfaatkan kira-kira lima juta tenaga kerja.

Dalam mengumumkan perkara itu, Najib yang pada tahun lalu mengumumkan pelarasan gaji antara tiga hingga tujuh peratus bagi sektor awam tahun lalu memberitahu bahawa kadar gaji minimum masih rendah berbanding paras dituntut oleh Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC).

Badan induk itu yang memperjuangkan gaji minimum sejak lebih tiga dekad lalu, menuntut RM1,200 sebulan.

"Gaji minimum ini meliputi semual sektor pekerja di negara ini kecuali tenaga kerja domestik seperti pembantu rumah dan tukang kebun," kata Najib yang juga Menteri Kewangan ketika mengumumkannya Putrajaya malam ini.

Pengumuman dibuat secara langsung menerusi televisyen tempatan.

Katanya, pekerja-pekerja di Semenanjung akan menikmati gaji minimum RM900 sebulan atau RM4.33 sejam manakala pekerja di Sabah dan Sarawak pula RM800 sebulan atau RM3.85 sejam.

Kerajaan turut menyediakan mekanisme pelaksanaan supaya penetapan gaji minimum itu tidak membebankan majikan dan tidak merugikan para pekerja dengan membenarkan penyerapan sebahagian elaun atau bayaran tunai tetap dalam perkiraan gaji minimum.

Bagaimanapun untuk memberi ruang dan peluang kepada majikan kecil membuat persediaan, tempoh kuat kuasa bagi kategori itu ialah 12 bulan daripada tarikh Perintah Gaji Minimum diwartakan.

Menurut Najib, pengecualian 12 bulan itu tidak meliputi kepada firma profesional seperti klinik-klinik pergigian dan perubatan; firma guaman; firma arkitek; firma juru perunding dan sebagainya; walaupun mereka mempunyai bilangan pekerja lima atau kurang; mereka perlu mematuhi gaji minimum ini dalam masa enam bulan.

Pemberian tempoh masa yang mencukupi itu, menurut beliau, adalah supaya majikan dapat membuat persediaan secukupnya bagi menstrukturkan semula gaji pekerja dan operasi perniagaan masing-masing.

"Kerajaan juga menyediakan mekanisme pelaksanaan yang fleksibel supaya majikan yang benar-benar tidak dapat melaksanakan gaji minimum boleh memohon pelanjutan tempoh peralihan," katanya.

Najib berkata, kerajaan mengambil langkah itu supaya upah dan gaji yang diterima oleh pekerja-pekerja di negara ini adalah selaras dengan kadar produktiviti dan kos sara hidup.

Katanya, seramai 33.9 peratus tenaga kerja negara ini menerima gaji kurang daripada RM700 sebulan iaitu rendah daripada garis kemiskinan RM800 

saifulfromslim

Mati kebuluran akibat diet rohani

WARTAWAN SINAR HARIAN
27 April 2012

GENEVA - Akhbar Switzerland, Tages-Anzeiger, kelmarin melaporkan seorang wanita di Wolfhalden mati kebuluran gara-gara mengamalkan diet rohani( tidak makan atau minum dan hanya mendapat bekalan nutrien daripada cahaya matahari) pada tahun lalu.

Wanita malang berumur dalam lingkungan 50-an itu dipercayai terpengaruh dengan dokumentari dari Austria memaparkan gaya hidup seorang sami India yang mengamalkan diet rohani tersebut selama 70 tahun.

Akhbar tersebut juga mendedahkan beberapa kes sama melibatkan beberapa individu turut dilaporkan di Jerman, Britain dan Australia.

saifulfromslim

Mahathir: Tidak mungkin polis rosakkan harta sendiri

30 April 2012

Tun Mahathir

PUTRAJAYA - Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata beliau percaya polis tidak akan bertindak merosakkan harta benda sendiri seperti yang didakwa pembangkang pada perhimpunan yang bertukar ganas Sabtu lepas.

"Saya tak tahu sama ada anda nak percaya atau tidak... saya tengok orang terbalikkan kereta (polis) dan mereka tidak kelihatan seperti anggota polis.

"Bagi saya mereka nampak macam penunjuk perasaan...lagipun kenapa polis nak terbalikkan kereta sendiri," katanya kepada pemberita, di sini hari ini.

Dr Mahathir yang ditemui pada pelancaran buku "A Doctor in The House: Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad" versi bahasa Melayu diminta mengulas mengenai dakwaan pembangkang bahawa keganasan pada perhimpunan itu dicetuskan oleh polis.

Pada perhimpunan anjuran badan bukan kerajaan yang disokong pembangkang itu, seramai 13 anggota polis cedera akibat tindakan ganas peserta perhimpunan yang

dijanjikan aman oleh penganjur.

Mengulas lanjut, Dr Mahathir juga berkata tindakan merempuh halangan polis oleh peserta perhimpunan itu adalah modus operandi pembangkang.

Katanya ketua pembangkang mempunyai reputasi menghasut rakyat sebelum melarikan diri agar tidak dipersalahkan rakyat. – Bernama

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