Sabtu, 28 April 2012

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim


Himpunan Aman BERSIH 3.0: Kenyataan Media Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Posted: 28 Apr 2012 05:15 AM PDT

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

Tear Gas, Water Cannon Fired at Reform Protesters in Kuala Lumpur

Posted: 28 Apr 2012 05:05 AM PDT

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.

Police and protesters square up in Kuala Lumpur

Posted: 28 Apr 2012 04:56 AM PDT

From http://www.euronews.com

28/04 13:04 CET

Aust Senator Teargassed in Malaysia

Posted: 28 Apr 2012 04:44 AM PDT

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.

Malaysian Police Fire Tear Gas at Electoral Reform Rally

Posted: 28 Apr 2012 04:35 AM PDT


Ribuan Penyokong Bersih Berhimpun di 30 Kotaraya

Posted: 28 Apr 2012 04:20 AM PDT

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.

 

PC: International Fact-Finding Mission On Election In Malaysia’s Concluding Media Meet

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 05:58 PM PDT

The 6-person mission from six countries after their 4 days of consulting members from both government and opposition, the Bersih organisers, the Election Commission and attending today’s Bersih sit-in protest, will meet the press to present their preliminary findings.

Details of PC:

DATE/TIME: APRIL 29, 2012 at 1PM
VENUE: ORCHID ROOM, LEVEL TWO, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL (The former Nikko Hotel), JALAN AMPANG, KUALA LUMPUR

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