Updated with Video!
Last night at the forum, I spoke about a momentum that is building which is uniting various movements in the country.
I’m glad to present today a joint statement by different organisations who have come together to stand up against the darkness that seeks to envelop the country. The statement was launched at a PC in DSAI’s office this morning – it was really heartening to see so many activist friends there. The difference it made to my mood today compared to yesterday is no joke.
I think it’s a great first step towards saying that we’re not taking this lying down, and that we’re uniting across ethnicities and ideologies to defend truth and justice for all.
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Kenyataan Bersama: Temujanji Segera dengan Perdana Menteri
Kami amat prihatin dengan krisis-krisis terbaru yang membelenggu negara kita.
Kami memandang serius ketegangan kaum dan agama yang melanda masyarakat kita. Komitmen utama kami ialah perpaduan nasional, muafakat masyarkat majmuk dan juga keselamatan dan kebajikan semua rakyat Malaysia. Kami percaya satu-satunya cara memelihara nilai-nilai tersebut ialah untuk menolak pendekatan yang memecahbelahkan masyarakat dan memelihara jaminan Perlembagaan. Justeru kami sekali lagi ingin mengulangi komitmen kami untuk mengambil pendekatan yang benar-benar bersatu dan pelbagai kaum dan agama di dalam perjuangan kami memperjuangkan keadilan untuk semua.
Kami juga kesal dengan tindakan kasar pihak berkuasa di dalam siri penahanan yang berlangsung pada 9 hingga 11 Disember. Penangkapan pimpinan badan bukan kerajaan dan parti-parti politik merupakan satu pelanggaran jelas hak asasi manusia yang dijamin oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Peristiwa tangkapan dan tekanan ini jelas bertentangan dengan jaminan kerajaan bahawa Malaysia merupakan sebuah demokrasi yang kukuh, dan akan mencemar nama negara di mata dunia.
Kami juga terus komited di dalam memperjuangkan agenda pilihan raya yang bebas dan adil di samping reformasi Pilihan Raya yang benar-benar bermakna. Pemindaan Perlembagaan yang membenarkan pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya untuk terus berkhidmat setahun lagi ialah petanda jelas bahawa kerajaan benar-benar ingin meneruskan sistem pilihan raya yang penuh dengan kelemahan dan penipuan. Sekali lagi kami mendesak kerajaan untuk memberi akses yang saksama terhadap media untuk semua parti politik dan menerima bukti-bukti yang kami kumpul secara serius untuk membanteras penyelewangan pilihan raya yang menular selama ini.
Jika tiada langkah yang segera diambil untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah ini, kita tidak akan memperoleh keadilan, keamanan dan kebebasan. Justeru, kami bersedia untuk membawanya ke peringkat kerajaan yang paling tinggi memandangkan adalah penting masalah-masalah ini dapat diselesaikan segera.
Dengan itu, kami ingin mendapatkan temujanji segera dengan Perdana Menteri untuk membincangkan masalah-masalah negara yang mustahak ini dan mendesak beliau berpegang pada janjinya untuk mendengar masalah semua rakyat Malaysia. Di dalam pertemuan ini kami berhasrat meneruskan agenda perpaduan dan muafakat nasional di kalangan semua rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira kaum dan agama dan meneruskan gesaan kami untuk pilihan raya yang bersih dan adil, di samping berusaha menyelesaikan masalah negara yang kita hadapi.
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Joint Statement to Seek Immediate Appointment with Prime Minister
We view with great seriousness the recent crises that trouble our nation.
We are especially troubled by the racial and religious antagonism that now pervades Malaysian society. Our foremost commitment is to national unity, multiracial solidarity as well as to the safety and welfare of all Malaysians. We believe that the only way to safeguard these values is to reject socially divisive approaches and uphold Constitutional guarantees. We thus affirm our pledge to remain united in our multiracial and multi-religious approach to uphold justice for all.
We deplore the heavy handed actions of the authorities in the series of arrests that took place between the 9th and 11th of December. This brutal crackdown against leaders of civil society organisations and political parties is a clear contravention of the fundamental liberties and human rights guaranteed in our Constitution. The inconsistency of these arrests and intimidations with the government’s assurances that Malaysia continues to be a strong democracy will undoubtedly tarnish our country’s reputation in the international community.
We also remain firmly committed to pursuing the agenda of free and fair elections as well as meaningful electoral reform. The amendment of the Constitution to allow the chairman of the Electoral Commission to serve for another year is a clear reminder that the government is fully intent on perpetuating an electoral system that is rife with irregularities and corruption. We reiterate our calls to the government to provide full access to the media for all political parties and to take seriously the mass of incriminating evidence that we have adduced time and time again and take all necessary measures to abolish well documented electoral malpractices.
Justice, harmony and freedom in Malaysia will be forever absent unless immediate steps are taken to remedy these vital issues. The importance of addressing them vigorously is such that we will seek to bring the matter to the highest level of government.
We are thus seeking an immediate appointment with the Prime Minister to discuss these pressing matters of state and urge him to honour his promise of being willing to listen to the concerns of all Malaysians. At this meeting we intend to pursue the agenda of national unity and reconciliation among all Malaysians regardless of race and religion, press on with our demands for free and fair elections, and work towards resolving the serious national problems we face.
List of Endorsees:
Political Parties
1 Democratic Action Party (DAP)
2 Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan)
3 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
4 Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS)
NGOs
1 Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
2 Centre for Policy Initiatives
3 Citizen Think Tank
4 Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH)
5 Concerned Citizens Group
6 Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)
7 Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
8 Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (Komas)
9 Labour Resource Centre (LRC)
10 Malaysians Against the Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
11 National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
12 National Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
13 Police Watch and Human Rights Committee
14 Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
15 Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
16 Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
17 Youth For Change (Y4C)
I think you are wasting time trying to fix an appointment with the PM. It’s just like trying to fix an appointment with someone who has just raped and robbed you to discuss what can be done to your predicament. If he truly listens, he would have listened a long time ago.
Please use your precious time to strategize how to topple this evil government through the GE even it may not be a fair one. As long as we all believe that light will eventually triumph over darkness, it can be done.
Wonderful news.At last a chance for Malaysians to take their biggest step towards becoming a truely developed nation.
Reaing Material
http://dppwp.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/bukan-isu-islam-lawan-hindu/
I must say i commend what u guys are all doing and i support the cause for a better electoral system, greater transperancy in the government and unity and fair treatment amongst the many diverse ethnic races in this colourful country of ours.
It takes a lot of passion, guts and commitment to stand up for what you believe in and being a minority and a citizen in this country i feel that my rights are suppressed by the current government. I have experienced my fair share of discrimination and feel disgusted to call myself a fellow citizen when we are not equally treated in terms of education, opportunities and benefits.
I find it refreshing that we all are in agreement that our basic rights cannot be trampled on and we have to stand united as one voice and as a rakyat malaysia and stop all this now..i mean now when things are just getting started and the rakyat are starting to realize the reality of the state of affairs in this country..to many for me to list out here i think we just have to log on to the relevant blogs to read about the discrepancies in the system and i’m talking about the judiciary right down to our DBKL officers behaviour towards the rakyat t(the very people who have given them the mandate to rule) maybe that’s why they think they are above the law..
I am appalled and ashamed of what direction this country is taking in terms of its policies and treatment of people’s basic rights and freedom to voice out our grievences these days are all falling on deaf ears and i dont know what our future will be like if we all just sit here and behave as if ignorance is bliss attitude !!..its time for the rakyat to wake from our slumber and stand up for our rights before even that is taken away from us
I am not racist and i believe we all can live in this country regardless of race and religion so long we respect each other and practice tolerance and we have done it for 50 years now ..in peace..why do we hear the rakyat’s cries now..something is wrong and we have to remedy this and i can’t understand why we the rakyat have not been given a forum to voice out our grivences..i hope he(our PM) will wake up and answer the many injustice and public outcry that’s being happening here recently in his backyard and address those issues in a constructive manner and not buat tak tahu as he has done in the past..well..what i want to say is good luck to you guys and i hope that you can resolve some issues that has brought the rakyat out to the streets…
I think the only way to stop further outcry is when the leaders of this country are accountable for their actions and stop hiding behind the police Act every time they feel threatened by the rakyat and opposition parties..or worse sign off an ISA order every time the rakyat speaks against any of its policies and feel no guilt and then go back home and sleep comfortably!
I am sick and tired of listening to the ministers not very tactful and unintelligent answers to the press and foreign press..please let us elect a more intelligent government at least..
It appears that we are seeing the formation of a Barisan Alternative!! I think the Rakyat has been truly seeking an alternative to the incumbent. The efforts now need to be focused on ensuring that every vote that brings a an elected candidate to victory is a bona fide vote. There is still a lot of work to be done. But the direction is right.
hey guys,
read this?
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/joseph_stiglitz/2007/09/the_malaysian_miracle.html
the comments are interesting
Good lord! Bless your heart, each and every one of you! Some might scoff and say that you are wasting your time – indeed, any meeting with our current ‘premier’ does seem so – but I for one do agree that any mutual step that you take together is three strides further than one taken alone.
I cannot even begin to imagine the difficulty all of you must have went through to get a consensus, but in my personal opinion, it is worth every drop of spittle at that meeting table.
Even if nothing comes out from this meeting with your apathetic ‘premier’, this is one step closer to kicking him and his where it really hurts! Again, my kudos to you and PRK, and to each and every single NGO and political party that pulled together for this!
Umno sedang meniupkan api perkauman Melayu
Posted on Wednesday, December 12 @ 07:43:43 MYT by SongkokPutih
Oleh alhusseyn
“Setiausaha Pemuda Umno Datuk Rahman Dahalan meminta PAS menyatakan pendirian yang jelas mengenai Hindraf setelah kumpulan itu membuat kenyataan yang ia memusuhi Umno.
“Jika memusuhi Umno bermakna memusuhi orang Melayu dan PAS juga dianggotai orang Melayu beragama Islam, jadi PAS tentu ada pendirian terhadap Hindraf,” katanya.BERNAMA
PAS tiada halangan jika Hindraf menganggap Umno sebagai musuhnya kerana Umno sendiri, melalui tindak tanduknya memang jelas memusuhi Hindraf.Melalui tindakan polis dan mahkamah yang dikuasai Umno, Hindraf diperosok dan dikeroyok oleh Umno semahu-mahunya. Malah Umno mengugut dengan penggunaan akta ISA.
Terbaru ialah melalui tindakan mahkamah terhadap pimpinan Hindraf,Uthayakumar yang dibebaskan dengan ikat jamin RM 50,000!
PAS yang mentadbir Kelantan terpaksa berhadapan dengan Umno yang sering menganggu gugat pentadbiran kerajaan negeri disana.
PAS bukan berhadapan dengan MIC atau MCA disana.Tetapi kenapa PAS berhadapan dengan UMNO?
Konon katanya Umno memperjuangkan Melayu.Dan konon katanya lagi, Umno meperjuangkan Islam. Tetapi Umno memusuhi PAS diKelantan , Trengganu hingga ke pelusuk dunia. Bukankah PAS juga dianggotai orang Melayu beragama Islam?
Apa yang kita semua tahu ialah para pemimpin Umno telah mendesak PM Abdullah Badawi supaya tidak melayan permintaan Hindraf untuk menemuinya.
Disebalik itu, para pemimpin Umno melontarkan berbagai tuduhan kepada Hindraf dengan mengapi-apikan sensitiviti bangsa dan agama.Isu Hindraf tidak habis-habis diperkatakan oleh pemimpin pelampau Melayu Umno , namun kenapa pintu rundingan ditutup rapat?
Malahan pemimpin Umno seperti Rahman Dahalan ini cuba mahu mengheret PAS ke kancah fahaman sempit kebangsaan dan agama yang Umno perjuangkan selama ini.
Umno telah menyisihkan dirinya dengan membawa fahaman Islam Hadari sambil menuduh PAS memperjuangkan Islam yang jumud dan macam-macam tuduhan dilemparkannya; tiba-tiba kini mendendangkan pujuk rayu sensitiviti kemelayuannya supaya isu perkauman antara Melayu dan etnik India Malaysia menjadi tegang.
Cis! Umno yang memang tradisinya berdendam dan memusuhi PAS tiba-tiba mahu bermuka-muka atas dasar kebangsaan Melayunya!
Umno sebenarnya sedang tersepit! etnik India yang selama ini memberi sokongan kepada BN melalui proksi mereka MIC, kini telah melucutkan sokongan mereka beramai-ramai dan menyertai Hindraf.
Cuba kita sama fikirkan : dari mana etnik India yang angkanya mencecah puluhan ribu sewaktu perhimpunan 25 November lalu? Dan rungutan mereka adalah terhadap peranan MIC yang gagal mewakili mereka selama ini?
Keadaan tersebut jelas menunjukan bahawa kebanyakan mereka adalah terdiri dari para penyokong setia MIC sendiri yang terlalu kecewa dengan sikap pimpinan MIC dalam banyak perkara.
Saya sendiri melalui perbualan dengan kawan-kawan etnik India, mereka menyatakan tentang terdapatnya 20 buah bas dari Sungai Siput sendiri telah ikut serta sewaktu perhimpunan Hindraf pada 25 November lepas!
Umno cuba mententeramkan diri sendiri dengan mengatakan Hindraf bukan mewakili golongan Etnik India ; sama seperti mana mereka menafikan PAS mewakili Etnik Melayu Islam!
Beg pardon. How come Hindraf not in the list. TQ
I have great respect for all of you – your dedication and sacrifice made for this country. My family would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Call me a pessimist. If a person is arrogant and selfish, he/she will be too proud to listen.
If one is sincere, the first step is the willingness to listen and understand the plight faced by the rakyat.
Then put into action.
It’s easy to make touching speeches, when there’s no
intention to do what is promised
Nat,
This is an inspired move by you and your colleagues. It will be great if we can continue to work with our partners in the opposition and civil society organizations. A broad coalition on matters of common concern is one way to achieve change for the benefit of all Malaysians.
I hope the Prime Minister sees this opportunity for constructive dialogue and responds to our call.
Keep it up.
Nat, I walked away from the PC because we are wasting time getting the ears of the PM. Our concerted effort by all organ isations present is to strategise if not to deny the BN the 2/3 at least to erode damagingingly their majority. No time for talk anymore because they aint going to listen to us. If you guys still want to talk to him, that is your right, but count me out. YOU DO NOT TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MINDS NOT TO LISTEN. A few of us prefer to ride the dragon than to suck at the fetid dry teats of running dogs.
[...] negara sendiri. Maka dengan itu, beberapa parti politik bersama-sama dengan NGOs akan mengadakan temujanji segera dengan Perdana Menteri, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Rujuk video ini. Adakah Pak Lah mahu mencemar [...]
Dearest True Malaysians. My heart is with you. This goverment sucks and we all know it. No words can describe how angry I am at the current state of affairs in this country run by somebody I really thought that can bring something good for the country but he turns out to be even worse than Mahathir.
What the people want is a fair gavernment…. isn’t that hard to give?Pak Lah, remember one day you will die and face THE ALMIGHTY….