The Malaysian Bar is appalled at the abuse of the legal process and grotesque use of force by the police in connection with the BERSIH 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, 28 April 2012.
 
The crowds that had gathered for the BERSIH 3.0 rally reflected a broad cross-section of Malaysian society, and were peaceful.  The police were initially restrained, although they did try to stop people from reaching various pre-announced meeting points.  However, the attitude of the police underwent a sea-change at 3:00 pm that day.  The reported breach of police barricades in some areas does not justify the police unleashing the full force of their arsenal upon crowds that were peaceful.  The police have shown in this incident that they do not have the maturity, discipline and restraint required of a professional force.  In this regard the Malaysian Bar strongly disagrees with the Minister of Home Affairs’ assertion that the police acted professionally. 

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

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

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

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

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

HOTM was in the thick of the action

At about 3pm ( I think. Not exactly sure ) all hell broke loose. I am not sure why. From Maybank, Jln Yap Ah Loy, I could see people running towards me from the Dataran Mederka end.. Then I could hear the popping of the teargas gun. I run as far as my artificial left hip could carry me, when into smaller lane and hid in a Sport Toto shop, and the many of us there, convince the clerk to shut the shutters. We could still hear teargas popping outside . The tear gas was very thick.After all was quiet for about 5 mins, I told the clerk that I must get back on duty. When the shutters opened, the air was still thick with teargas.
As I walk towards Jln Tun Perak, tying to regroup, the police chase us and fired more tear gas. While I was running for safety, a Chinese man tapped me and asked for help. His wife was bleeding badly from an open wound in the right temple of her scalp. He said that she had been hit by a tear gas cannister. I asked her to lie down, as I tried to examined the wound. I could see a severe spurter ( ? arterial bleed ). As I was examining, I could hear popping and they were still firing tear gas and there I was with my Medic Vest. It meant nothing to them. I asked the husband to help me half carry her to another small side road behind Kota Raya, lie her on the hawker table and attended to her wound, It was obvious that she needed hospital attention. I radioed for help, but after 10 mins, I could hear almost mayhem over the walkie talkie. I asked my team to help me bandaged her scalp wound with pressure bandage, hail down a passing Honda Accord. The driver was kind enough to agree , and send her to Tung Shin Hospital 5 mins away, with one of my doctors and the husband.
There after, I had to attend to another tear gas cannister scalp injury. This was minor. An obese man developed severe asthma ? exertional running ? tear gas allergy, and my team had to attend to him. Also stailised him and send him by private car to Tung Shin hospital.
This is basically the medical report of Medic 3, Bersih 3.0

Tear gas should not be fired directly at persons. Injury or even death may occur as a result of a direct hit from a tear gas cannister. Isn’t this something the FRU should be aware of?

from the Malaysian Medical Resources

Bersih 3.0, a medical field report

Every Sunday is a pOpcrap day

POPCRAP 1

Watched The Avengers twice. lol Felt that it could be better and there was too much of talking and walking around. Rate it 8/10.

POPCRAP 2

Was at the office party yesterday. So fun

POPCRAP 3

New kicks! Puma Clyde

• Chilling at Hong Kong Airport while waiting for our next flight. (at @hkg) [pic] — http://t.co/Q2eSklXb #
• V r home! (@ Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) w/ 55 others) http://t.co/oc9kNTZY #
• Finally home. Omg so tired!!! (at The Gardens @ Jade Hills by Gamuda Land) — http://t.co/JxGdUAG2 #
• CANNOT STAND PENTECOSTAL PREACHING> CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT! #
• Is there such a thing as the Holy Spirit ever leaving you because you don't tarry enough? What is tarrying all about??? #
• I don't think Christians should be obsessed about Hell lor. Seriously #
• Wadafak! Bersih people campaigning in the pasar malam. Siao! http://t.co/fLRei47b #
• Being righteous about politics doesn't make you any less of an irresponsible prick. #justsaying #
• Oh man. AM suddenly craving for Maggi Mee Kari. It's 5 pm. Dinner is soon! #
• Stupid just got stupider. Oh man. Deja Vu. #facepalm to PDRM #
• OK So apparently they have resorted to fencing the place up with razor wires. Aiyoh why lah. #
• I don't know why Paul is jumping up and down like he's high on sugar! hahahah! #
• Why do people get emotional for all the wrong reasons? I'm sorry to have disappointed. #
• Hahahaha!! “@umapagan: You know what's the one thing missing from #Bersih Milo trucks!” #
• Unrelated note. Budak finished 1.5 full plates of fried bee hook! Either I cook really well or he's really hungry haha! #
• and then after lunch,, now he comes up to me, calls to be carried, closes his eyes and immediately goes to sleep! HAHAHA ! #
• interesting how the truth is perceived and reported differently by different people with different ideologies. hahaha asalkan gembira! #
• YAY! GOT TEAR-GASSED, without warning! PROOF THAT BN GOVERNMENT IS EVIL! We're right once again! PROOF PROOF! *sorry had to…. * #
• whoever is manning this account is quite a dumbass – pardon the language “@BNcybertroopers: Peserta Bersih 3.0 bukan Pejuang tapi PONDAN” #

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29 April 2012 (Ahad)

9.00 – 12.00 mlm – Ceramah Perdana – Selepas Bersih 3.0 ?

Lokasi: Padang Bola Taman Dato’ Senu, Sentul

Penceramah:

i.                    YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

ii.                  YB Tian Chua

iii.                YB Manikavasagam

iv.               YBhg Cik Gu Isyak Surin

v.                 YBhg Dayang Ku Intan & Fadiah

Alhamdulilah, perhimpunan aman untuk menuntut pilihanraya yang bersih dan adil disertai puluhan ribu rakyat Malaysia. Perhimpunan aman BERSIH bukan sahaja berjaya dilaksanakan di Dataran Merdeka, bahkan di seluruh negara dan bandar-bandar utama seluruh dunia. Rakyat Malaysia, tidak mengira ras dan keyakinan hadir dengan semangat berkobar-kobar demi menyatakan pendirian mereka bahawa pilianraya yang bersih serta adil merupakan salah satu tunjang amalan demokrasi di negara ini.

Saya mengucapkan syabas kepada Jawatankuasa BERSIH yang tuntas iltizamnya mahu menuntut satu reformasi pilihanraya yang menyeluruh. Tahniah juga kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia yang hadir memberi sokongan. Adalah dimaklumkan ada kemalangan membabitkan peserta perhimpunan aman petang tadi. Saya menggesa agar siasatan yang bebas dan menyeluruh diadakan bagi menyiasat punca serta pihak yang bertanggungjawab. Saya juga menyeru mereka yang menyertai perhimpunan aman ini agar segera bersurai kerana pimpinan BERSIH sudahpun mengeluarkan arahan untuk bersurai.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

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

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

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

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

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

Bazuki Muhammad / Reuters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bazuki Muhammad / Reuters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Baker / AP

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

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

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

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

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

Reuters contributed to this report.

On living a life to the fullest.

From http://www.euronews.com

28/04 13:04 CET

From SBS.COM

Senator Nick Xenophon among crowds under teargas fire by police at thousands of people rally for electoral reforms in Malaysia’s capital.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has had teargas fired in his direction during a demonstration for electoral reforms in central Kuala Lumpur.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators swamped the Malaysian capital on Saturday to demand the reforms, ahead of national polls expected soon.

Senator Xenophon, who is in Kuala Lumpur on an international fact-finding mission on election processes in Malaysia, was among the crowds when police fired teargas and chemical-laced water at demonstrators.

Until then it had been a peaceful rally that had included chanting and a speech by Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Senator Xenophon told AAP by telephone.

“The police have just let off canister after canister of teargas,” he said soon after the demonstration was broken up.

“People have been injured. People are fainting.”

Those targeted included the opposition leader’s daughter, Iman Anwar, 22.

She believes police who recognised her deliberately fired a canister in her direction.

Accompanied by one of her father’s bodyguards, she ran to a nearby mosque to seek shelter.

“But they were still shooting at us, so we decided to walk in another direction,” she said.

The demonstrators had defied a lockdown of central Kuala Lumpur that left it a maze of razor wire and barricades.

“This is a country that the Australian government is happy to do refugee swaps with,” Senator Xenophon said.

“It raises serious questions over how authoritarian it is.”

Saturday’s rally was one of Malaysia’s biggest street rallies in recent years, reflecting concerns that Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ruling coalition – which has held power for more than 50 years – will have an unfair upper hand in elections that could be called as early as June.

Activists have alleged that the election commission is biased and claimed that voter registration lists are tainted with fraudulent voters.

Senator Xenophon is one of two Australian delegates taking part in the fact-finding mission.

The other delegates are from Germany, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, South Africa, Turkey and Tunisia.

The group were invited to Kuala Lumpur by Mr Anwar.

Harakah

Ketika ratusan ribu rakan-rakan mereka berkumpul di Kuala Lumpur, beribu-ribu penyokong agenda Bersih juga berkumpul di tempat-tempat lain seluruh dunia.

Khamis lepas, berpuluh-puluh penyokong Bersih 3.0 melancarkan kempen mereka lebih awal iaitu di dua kota suci umat Islam, Makkah dan Madinah.

Hari ini perhimpunan itu dilaporkan berlangsung di 30 bandaraya.

Di Sydney, Australia, lebih 100 orang berkumpul bagi menuntut pilihan raya yang bersih dan adil di Malaysia.
(Perhimpunan di Masjid Nabawi, Madinah beberapa hari lalu)
Di Melbourne, Australia, peserta perhimpunan di Federal Square mencecah 750 orang, lapor tweet terkini Bersih Oz Twitter.

Perhimpunan itu bermula kira-kira jam 9 pagi waktu tempatan dengan kira-kira 30 orang membawa plakad menyokong pilihan raya bebas dan adil serta menyanyikan lagu ‘Negara Ku’.

Menjelang tengah hari, semakin ramai menyertai perhimpunan tersebut, dengan topeng Ambiga diedarkan untuk dipakai oleh para peserta.

“Topeng Ambiga kini diedarkan, kita semua Ambiga!” tulis satu tweet. Semasa di Perth, Australia,

(Himpunan Bersih 3.0 di Kota Kinabalu)

150 rakyat Malaysia dilaporkan berkumpul di hadapan menyanyi konsulat Malaysia, manakala 300 lagi berhimpun di Dewan Bandaran Sydney sekitar jam 2 petang.

Di Adelaide, kira-kira 150 orang menyertai perhimpunan menyokong BERSIH di bandar tersebut. Sementara itu di New Zealand, perhimpunan dilaporkan bermula di Christchurch, di Universiti Canterbury sekitar jam 10.30 pagi waktu tempatan.

Di Seoul, kira-kira 30 rakyat Malaysia mengadakan perhimpunan itu serentak dengan di Malaysia yang berdepan dengan tembakan gas pemedih mata dan meriam air.

“Kami menuntut pilihan raya yang bebas dan adil. Bebaskan semua tahanan,” laung peserta perhimpunan itu di persimpangan Gwanghwamun di tengah-tengah bandaraya Seoul (kiri)

(Perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 di Kucing)

Memakai baju-T kuning, mereka – kebanyakannya pelajar Malaysia dan pekerja yang tinggal di ibu negara Korea Selatan itu – membawa kain rentang dan bergilir-gilir menyampaikan ucapan menuntut pembaharuan pilihan raya di Malaysia.

Selain, penyokong Bersih juga berhimpun di Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Begitu juga di Kucing, mereka juga berhimpun di sana.

Today is the day that the third Bersih rally, Bersih 3.0, will be held, as Malaysians come together to call for free and fair elections in this country. We would like to wish our medical brethren who are participating as a Bersih 3.0 Medical Team all the best. We sincerely hope though that there will be no medical emergencies during the rally and that everyone keeps a cool head.

from the Malaysian Medical Resources

Bersih 3.0 Medical Team

Have you ever wonder how Google finds all the search results that match your search queries? In this video, Matt Cutts from Google explains how Google works, including crawling, indexing, and ranking.

What I learned from the video?

High reputation page (many incoming links) and relevant content can have higher ranking than high PageRank site.

How does Google Search Works? (2012) [VIDEOS] is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Featured video by smashpOp.net

Water taxi / water boat ride in Korea! Damn fun! Watch!

=============================

Featured videos from Youtube

Being a mom is the hardest job in the world. But it’s also the best.

Girls Generation’s latest teaser video

While puffing off my Perdomo cigars outside the balcony, I started thinking about the use of… Free online storage.

Dropbox is the one I used the most, seriously, nothing can compare to Dropbox, even Box.net which is the pioneer, is not as friendly as Dropbox. Funny, how I bear with Dropbox for their dekstop application. I installed the iPad app as well, it is just too easy to run around with Dropbox.

Now, Google introduced their Google Drive!

I remember I signed up for a few more online storage like Box.net… But I can’t really remember the URL for all of them…

Come join our recording tomorrow Saturday night 9pm.
Topics:

Sign up by telling me whig topic or topics you want to join. Feel free to join them all. First time guest, read this before joining.

Salam to all. I’ve registered Negaraku.my as one of the contender for Google Most Inspiring Internet for Good Award.

Why Do I Think Negaraku.my Deserves This?

Like I’ve said in my previous entries, Negaraku.my is a social sharing web site. Sharing on Negaraku.my will gain more traction as compared to sharing on your facebook wall or your tweets because it’s not bounded by ‘friends’ you already have. At the end of the day, we’d have tonnes of articles submitted. This will definitely help who lacks time and needs to digest daily news in a blink.

Negaraku.my, is an open platform for everyone to use. However being open, we are exposed to being abused. Precautionary actions have already been taken place. There’s 2 part time developer and several admins was appointed to help manage the site, all work on voluntary basis.

Anyway, once a year, we’ll have gathering for Iftar just to meet the people who shared on the site. I’m pretty sure the turn out for this year will be ginormous. Provided we win the award, we’ll make use of the money for open table at our usual place, Kedai Ayam Nara (has nothing to do with beatifulnara.com)

So vote for us DAILY by clicking the above link. Thank you for your support!

So you have read the previous post telling you why I am attending the Leadership Camp on June 15-17th 2012. You know that my objective for attending is to learn diplomacy and humility, and getting used to working with unfamiliar people. You know that the reason is to prepare myself for my future role as leader of a public charitable foundation. Now, the next question you may ask is, “Why do you think this camp, and not any other camps, can help you achieve those objectives?”

The answer lies in the camp speakers and facilitators. Read on to understand who they are.

Perminderjit Singh

The main speaker is Perminderjit Singh. He used to be an engineer for Maxis. After deciding to pursue his dreams, he is now retired at the age of 40 and happily living in Melbourne with his wife and three kids. He continues motivating others to pursue their own dreams.

Shelley Ooi

Another speaker of note is Shelley Ooi, a retired Chief Executive Officer of a multinational pharmaceutical company. Heavily inducted into the corporate world, she provides good insights for those who are seeking to improve themselves, whether in crafting a vision or cultivating discipline.

Do you see something that you can learn from these people? I know I do.

If you are interested in learning from them, register for this Leadership Camp today and join me on a three-day humbling experience in Malacca. Those who submit the registration form and a deposit of RM100.00 before 30th April 2012 is entitled to a RM100.00 rebate off the full camp fees.

Camp fees after rebate: RM500.00
inclusive of three days, two nights’ hotel meals and accommodations as well as camp materials. There will be a bus going from KL at no charge.

For enquiries and registration, e-mail me at yvonnefmn(at)gmail(dot)com