Saturday, November 15, 2008

SENIOR CITIZENS! JOIN US AT PJ CIVIC CENTRE CAR PARK ON SUNDAY.

YES, thats me with the T Shirt I will wear at tomorrow's SAY NO TO ISA vigil. No, there is no sarcasm I am trying to put across.

I have always supported the police force when they perform their duties professionally. Whilst the Armed Forces have their jobs to do to stop any enemy invasion; the Air Force fly over our skies in case of missile attacks; the Navy patrol our coasts in case of unfriendly incursions into our waters, our police man are moving targets of criminals that currently abound in our streets. And they are the most lowly paid. It is no wonder that many are on the take. I am not encouraging graft. I am appealing for some empathy. Being lowly paid, they depend also on their job to put bread on table and books in school-bags. I cannot blame them when they become over-bearing. They are taking orders. Their jobs depend on obeying orders.

(Aside: How nice if the billions we are going to spend rescuing failed projects and organisations are given to the Police Force to improve their lives. Or the government will not do this because that is the only way they can get the force to do their biddings. Like telling the mata-mata: Obey or you and your family will be out on the streets.)

WHAT I DETEST ARE THOSE WHO COMMAND THE ORDINARY POLICEMEN TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES UNPROFESSIONALLY, STRIKE WITH FORCE, TEAR SHIRTS, PULL HAIR, DELIVER KICKS ON HARMLESS MEN AND WOMEN.

==================================================================
NEWS BREAK
8:30pm,
Penang.
Angela and Jong just called in from Penang to say that the vigil was broken-up by the Police and that organiser Paula (who blogs as masterwordsmith.blogspot.com) was taken to the police station. The participants are on their way to lend her support.

9:08PM.
Paula called from the Patani Police Station to ask for advice...our coversation was interrrupted abruptly as she was called into the room for questioning.
9.10PM.
I contacted Jeff Ooi, MP for Jelutong.
9:12PM:
Haris contacted lawyer Munaweer.
===================================================================

Back to where I left off. A thought just occured to me. Now our authorities are afraid of rakyat holding lighted candles and No To ISA tee-shirts. What will happen if our enemies use weapons? How will our agencies react?

Incidentally, I was informed by Haris, that the police will allow us to assemble at the Civic Centre car park for ten minutes, no candles and no ISA tee-shirts, after which we will have to carry on in the Centre's hall. I am reliably informed that the Datuk Bandar acceded to these instructions. The Civic Centre is Selangor State property I understand. Will the Menteri Besar allow the Force to come into his house and tell him, "You cannot sit on that chair; please do not cross your leg; switch off your TV; get us all a cup of coffee." But isn't this what is happening......in Selangor. KURANG AJAR? Dang, and what is the Selangor EXCo going to do about this travesty?

WE THE PEOPLE PUT YOU IN OFFICE TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR RIGHTS..
DO IT!

+++++

The title of this post is straight forward. I am appealing to my senior citizen friends to come to the vigil to make a stand. I speak for myself. For too long, I was looking after the family and closed my eyes to misdeeds and missteps. I did not bother to speak out. I was afraid to speak out. Or I just did not bother. I personally take the blame for what has happened to this country. I allowed this coungry to slide and the wound to fester. But now I want to make amends. I have the opportunity - my blog, vigils etc to put the message across that enough is indeed enough. We want back our liberties. We want back our country. My senior friends....if you feel the same, come join us tomorrow at the Civic Centre Car Park at 8:00pm. For those who cannot or will not participate, say a prayer that we will stand by our convictions and for your rights.

+++++

I spent a good part of this afternoon with a former student and former journalist Terrence Netto. Amongst other things he related to me what he heard from an Asean official. This official, who will remain anonymous said two things:

1. Freedom is a prerequisite to be a human being.
2. Your March 8 elections has opened the eyes of the region. If you can consolidate, the region will
follow.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said…

THE TERMINAL CANCER, UMNO NARJIS & SI BOTAK, MUST BE REMOVED BY SURGERY, AS CHEMO DOESN’T WORK ANYMORE, WHATEVER DEEDS DONE BY THE POLICE IS UNDER THE DIRECT GUIDANCE OF SI BOTAK UMNO, JUST THROW THEM OUT AS ALL RAKYATS OF MALAYSIA MUST UNITE TO THROW THEM OUT GIVEN THE FIRST CHANCE TO AVOID ANY FURTHER INJUSTICES TO BE COMMITTED BY THEM!!! ALL THE RAKYATS MUST PUT ALL THE BLAMES TO WHERE THE SOURCE OF DISCONTENT STARTED THERE IS SOME POINT IN BLAMING THE OVERZEALOUS POLICEMEN WHO MUST SUBMIT AS WILLING MOUTH SALIVATING DOGGIES TO THEIR PRESENT POLITICAL MASTERS!!!

EVERYONE KNOWS POLITICS IS DIRTY, BUT NOW IN MALAYSIA JUSTICES UNDER THE NEW UMNO ADMINISTRATION ESPECIALLY IN THE NEW ERA OF SI BOTAK AND NAJIS IS WORST OFF, THEREFORE MONGOLIA IS RIGHT TO BRING THIS CASE TO INTERNATIONAL COURT TO SEEK JUSTICE AND AT THE VERY LEAST THE EMBARRASSMENT TO THE UNFIT PRIME MINISTER IN WAITING OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA

THE POLICE & THEIR BRUTALITY AGAINST PEACEFUL CITIZENS IN A NEW ERA OF UMNO SI BOTAK & NAJIS FIT FOR THE SEWERS ONLY. THE SELECTIVE USE OF ISA SCARED AWAY CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO MALAYSIA IN A CAPITAL FLIGHT AND NEXT THE POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST PEACEFUL RAKYATS UNDER THE DIRECT GUIDANCE OF UMNO SI BOTAK WILL SCARED AWAY THE TOURISTS VISITING MALAYSIA THAT IS THE NEW ERA OF NAJIS IN HIS IN WAITING ADMINISTRATION.

WHY Razak Baginda, the fall guy, with no further obstacles or hindrances in sight for Najis in his ascending to the Top Power, has now been released??? The real murderers whose identities are obvious but are still at large, with RPK detained under ISA but just released and PI Balasundram exiled overseas there are no other major obstacles and hindrances to Najis’ ascendancy to the pinnacle of his power come March 2009. This is only obvious that UMNO has now the final say in justice with their man Zaki as the Chief Justice. This is the obvious Justice of Malaysia, the laughing stock of the whole world, Malaysia should be boycotted by the world communities for their greatest injustices towards human rights and common normal justices. THIS IS MALAYSIA UMNO’S MALAY SUPREMACY AT ALL COSTS BUT GOING DOWN THE SEWERS WITH NAJIS, THE NEW PRIME MINISTER IN WAITING AFTER THE 51ST YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE.

panca said...

Unc Bernard,

This is real profound acts of democracy moving in the right direction, the stamina of seniors will bear even fruit earlier, their stamina will be continuity for victory for greater vigil and change.

The Rakyat are peaceful people and deserve respect and warrants to be heard.

Seniors please show your support of solidarity, as our Elders, many salute.

As spoken by an ASEAN official, those two things should touch our hearts...

1. Freedom is a prerequisite to be a human being.
2. Your March 8 elections has opened the eyes of the region. If you can consolidate, the region will
follow.

Peace be upon All RAKYAT and especially to the police too.

Anonymous said...

'... no candles and no ISA tee-shirts '... ?

The BN Government & the Police Force as 'peace-keepers' are afraid of our 'candles' & 'No to ISA' tee-shirts ?

Lets continue to fast and pray for Wisdom ,Peace and Tranquility to prevail.

Let's continue to campaign to "RELEASE all ISA detainees & ABOLISH ISA NOW!"

Syabas to all Candlelight-vigil Peacemakers.

Anonymous said...

What a joke! Now candles and t-shirts with words printed on have become sensitive items and a threat to national security? The police suffering from some sort of paranoia?
These arrests are to intimidate and send a message to the people not to participate in the vigils. Scare tactics don't work on us!

Anonymous said...

The Police & their Masters must remember that 'you can stop the messenger but you cannot stop the message' Hidup Reformasi....Malaysians of all races are sick of
*living in fear of Rapists (often stopping woman who are alone claiming /disguising as Police in plainsclothes or even in uniform,taking them suppossedly to the station but actually raping them !)-this is where the Police should focus their resources & energy on !
*sick of Racism that permeate our society in jobs discrimination in the Government /public sector
and opportunities.
*of an arrogant Government who can detain anyone under ISA if they pose a threat to their cushy positions in power & privileges.
REFORMASI starts with everyone of us who are concern for our childrens future. Hidup Rakyat!
Malaysio

Trashed said...

How about printing out T shirts which say "I support my Police Man" and donating the profits to the Police tabung ?

Then make a strategic alliance with the police that people wearing this at ISA vigils are their supporters (even if the cause is contentious to them). Thus people wearing this should be left alone, should there be any police action.

Win-win situation : People at gathering don't get harrassed and policeman get recognition and financial aid.

Pinch me, someone.

Zashnain said...

If this was East Germany or Poland in the early 1980s, then I would understand the paranoia. The police would be extremely sensitive of everything.

Fortunately for Malaysians, we are living in Malaysia, our country in this time and age.

Unfortunately for Malaysians, the Govt has created a gap between themselves and the people. The police naturally are caught in between and many times on the side of the Govt.

Ours Laws and Traditions were created to protect, nurture and enhance an important aspect of Malaysia. That aspect is Life itself. Along the way as the nation develops, somehow the Laws and Traditions becomes more important that what we had originally intended it to become.

The Govt is there to serve the people. The police serves the people as they naturally are part of us. I remember when I was younger, many times the police played a more important role in society, where they acted as diplomats, negotiator and friend, using consultation rather than confrontation to solve many misunderstanding, misconception and differences between the people they truly serve. Now it appears to be vastly different, not to mention unpopular and ineffective.

Malaysians would appreciate if the resurrection of the old roles of the police took place now. We would work with the police in order to reduce crime and ensure the security of our communities. I believe anything done in a non-violent way, such as a peaceful assembly, should be respected and encouraged rather than forcing people to disperse in an undignified manner. Malaysians are gathering in public for a reason. History has proven many times that the suppression of peaceful assembly would lead to worse scenarios for the Govt and authorities of the relevant country.

The authorities, especially those associated/in the Govt, must resurrect their original purpose of their function in our country. They are there to protect Malaysians. They are here to be part of an active and wise component of our lives. They should never be the black left hand of ‘justice’ for the Govt.

Anonymous said...

Yes, its confirmed that they don't like the No to ISA T-shirts. Last week when I was amongst the PJ vigil supporters, two of them told me they were asked by the Police to wear their T shirts inside out! This is NOT freedom! This is NOT democracy!

Anonymous said...

Rather than wasting time entertaining their paranoia, wouldn't it be a good idea that we have a colour theme now and leave these 'a holes' to themselves?

Anonymous said...

If we comply to their demand that we should not wear T-shirts that proclaim our purpose in holding the candle light vigils and if we can't light candles, then we are submitting to their will.

As it is we cannot sing the Nationa Anthem at our vigils.

What next? They may come up with a no-brainer such as: You may only HOLD SILENT VIGILS WITH NO LIT-CANDLES.

Are we to accede to such ridiculous demands too?

Bullies will keep on intimidating when we GIVE IN to their violence and harrassment.

Anonymous said...

What I am not clear is why FRUs are used indiscriminately. They are trained for specific purposes - e.g. riots. In normal countries, ordinary police keep order. Does that mean the police in Malaysia are inefficient? Sorry for asking this question.
From a "kaypoh" foreigner!

Anonymous said...

These police bums are at it again. This time arresting a peaceful organiser Paula. Another numerous scenarios of our so called law enforcement bums under the instructions of their racialistic, arrogant and greedy masters in BN.
Hope that Paula has the determination and courage to withstand this grave injustice by our country who is a party to The Univesal Declaration of Human Rights. What a shame and disgrace to the country.
The present bunch of bums running the country have already destroy enough of the country goodwill and credibility. Just throw them out the next general election. Enough is enough.
Hope all peace loving rakyat including PKR will do whatever they can for the release of Paula as soon as possible.