The police have arrested 13 Unit Amal from Perak and 1 from Melaka around 7am when they were in KL Central. The individuals are planning to attend the mass rally to call for abolishment of ISA which will be held in Kuala Lumpur later today.
Those arrested includes:
1. Shahrul Iman Mohd Salleh
2. Ikhwan Ikram
3. Ahmad Adbul Wahab Abdul Rahman
4. Kamal Nadhir Kadeni
5. Abu Ubaidah Jalaluddin
6. Mohammad Sholihin Mat Salleh
7. Faizuddin Hazman Kadine
8. Saad Musa
9. Mohammad Helmi Hassan
10. Mohammad Hafizuddin Mohd Ghazali
11. Mohd Lokman Ahmad Mawi
12. Mohd Fadzil Jan Jam
13. Shamsul Anuar Nordin
They are detained in IPK Kuala Lumpur now.
Another 22 individuals have been arrested in Masjid Negara. They are sending to IPD Cheras by 2 police trucks.
Those arrested includes:
1. Mohd Marwan bin Husin
2. Aly Idham bin Alykallam
3. Bostaman Jumat bin Jaldi
4. Mohd Zulhilmi bin Mat Zin
5. Zulhelmi
SUARAM condemns the police for their ongoing attacks and intimidation on freedom of expression and right to assembly, fundamental rights which are guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
We demand the police to release the 23 individuals immediately and unconditionally. We demand that police stop harassing the Malaysian people from exercising their rights to assembly and stop the assault on freedom of expression. We demand the police to allowed the mass rally against the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) to be held as scheduled in Kuala Lumpur at 2pm later today by the Abolish ISA Movement.
Released by,
Wong Chai Yi
Coordinator
Urgent action needed:
Please write protest letters to the government and the police to express your strongest condemnation of the arrests and the ongoing denial of rights of expression. Please also demand the Malaysian government for the immediate and unconditional release the three activists.
Your protest letters should be sent to:
1. CPO DCP Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman
IPK Kuala Lumpur
Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Hang Tuah
51100 Kuala Lumpur
No. Tel : 03 2146 0522
No. Fax : 03 2072 6786
2. OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Amir Mohd Hashim
IPD Cheras
Polis Diraja Malaysia
56100 Kuala Lumpur
No. Tel : 03-92842222, 03-92843403, 03-92845398
No. Fax : 03-92879479
2. Inspector-General of Police
Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,
50560 Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia .
Tel: +603 2262 6015
Fax: +603 2272 5613
3. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Prime Minister’s Office,
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building ,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya , MALAYSIA
Tel : 603-8888 8000
Fax : 603-8888 3444
E-Mail: ppm@pmo.gov. my
(Bangkok, 30 July 2009): The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) called on the Malaysian government to respect the right to freedom of assembly and allowed the mass rally against the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) to be held as scheduled in Kuala Lumpur on 1 August by the Abolish ISA Movement.
The rally aimed to gather 100,000 supporters from non-governmental organizations, political parties, student bodies, women’s organizations and human rights movements to push their “ultimate call” to revoke the repressive ISA, release those held under the ISA and close down the Kamunting detention camp where ISA detainees are detained.
The Abolish ISA Movement is a coalition of 83 civil society organizations, trade unions and political parties that campaigned for the abolition of the ISA.
On April 15, Najib Razak who was appointed as the new Prime Minister after the worst election result for the ruling parties in history, expressed that his government will review the ISA, the draconian legislation left from the British colonial legacy that provides for indefinite detention without trial.
Civil society, however, has been calling for the complete abolition rather than review of the legislation.
“The ISA is in direct contravention with basic principles of human rights such as the right to trial. Thousands languished in jail without a trial. Such law should not be tolerated, especially since Malaysia is also a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The ISA should be abolished altogether,” said Wahyuningrum, East Asia Program Manager of FORUM-ASIA in a statement July 31.
FORUM-ASIA is also alarmed on the possible violent disruption of this rally by the Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah (Pewaris), an ultra right wing group closely associated to the ruling parties who planned to hold a counter-rally on the same day and same venue purportedly to support the ISA.
FORUM-ASIA called on the police to be impartial and professional in ensuring a safe environment to facilitate for the exercising of the right to peaceful assembly by the Abolish ISA Movement. The Pewaris should not be allowed to undermine the right to freedom of assembly of others by way of threat of violence.
The organization urged the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) to play its role to monitor the police conduct in dealing with the planned public assemblies on the 1st of August.
FORUM-ASIA called on the Malaysian Government to take the necessary steps to repeal the law to respect fundamental rights and freedoms, and release all the remaining individuals detained under ISA in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international legal standards, or if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times.
FORUM-ASIA is regional human rights organization with 46 members across Asia.
Anti-ISA rally on Aug 1 to kick off at 2pm
July 10, 2009
UALA LUMPUR(July 10,PATC) : Islamic Party of Malaysia(PAS) central committee member Mohamad Sabu has urged the public to turn up on Aug 1 to participate in a peaceful rally to call for the Internal Security
Act(ISA) to be abolished.
”We hope everybody could come out to stand against (the injustice of) the ISA,” Mohamad said.
When contacted today, Mohamad said the rally on Aug 1, could be an opportunity for the country to start the process of getting rid of the notorious act that has chained the country for the past 49 years.
”We are the only country to have this act apart from Singapore, Israel and Brunei,” he said.
The ISA allowed for indefinite detention without trial with several detainees currently being held for almost eight years.
The Act which originally aimed to counter communist insurgency in the 60s had turned into what several quarters described as a “political tool” for the ruling coalition to silent dissenting voices.
Mohamad said those participating should wear black and red as proposed by the organiser and he expressed confidence that the rally would proceed peacefully without any untoward incidents.
Three meeting points have been allocated for the rally namely in front of shopping complex Sogo, Masjid Jamek and the National mosque before participants march to the National Palace at 2pm.
Abolished ISA Movement(GMI) working committee chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the rally aimed to mobilise the masses to call for the draconian act to be abolished, for all ISA detainees to be released and for Kamunting Camp in Perak to be closed down.
Makkal Sakhti
He said the rally in conjunction with 49th anniversary of the draconian act would culminate with a people declaration being handed over to the Yang diPertuan Agong, the King.
He said the secretariat of the rally would be sending a letter to the National Palace seeking audience.
In a statement distributed July 10, Syed Ibrahim said the rally is part of GMI continuous effort to highlight the injustices of the ISA.
”The pressure from the people (to the government) play an important role in this effort (to repeal the draconian act),” he said.
”The people has once again call for change,” he said hinting that people power and “makkal sakhti” would be the battlecry for the rally.
”We are calling for bloggers, reformists and social activists to support this rally,” he said.
He said in the presence of ISA, everyone could be detained at any time and their freedom being taken away.
Syed Ibrahim said a series of rally would also be held nationwide in the run up to Aug 1.
He said updated information could be obtained from the rally’s official blog at himpunanmansuhisa.wordpress.com
There will also be banner, posters and fliers to be distributed nationwide.
/end.
Comment: Unity gov’t
June 12, 2009
For all the noise there were about “unity government” put forward by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, I’m wondering why detractors to the idea failed to mention that the idea is for Pakatan Rakyat coalition and Barisan Nasional to come together to form a temporary unity government with the aim to correct our dying public institutions.
However to stall the idea some quarters had portrayed it as talks for coalition government between PAS and Umno.
Well I guess time will tell who got what right.
Its also interesting to see competing leaderships offering their service to the country. May the man with the best idea wins.
Report: Possible contest for PAS two wings
May 20, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (ES) – Possible contest for two top posts in Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS)’s wings in next month general assembly seem to be shaping up with President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang assured of retaining his post.
The contest for the youth chief’s position involved current deputy Nasrudin Hassan and Kelantan deputy speaker Mohd Zaki Ibrahim.
Meanwhile five candidates are eligible to battle it out for the youth deputy chief. They are current secretary Ahmad Sabki Yusuf, current vice chief Azman Shapawi Abd Rani, Musoddak Ahmad, Nasrudin and Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.
The third highest position in youth wing will also probably see a contest with five candidates eligible to contest.
The women wing meanwhile will probably witness a four cornered fight for the chief post between incumbent Nuridah Salleh, former chief Azizah Khatib Mat, Kota Raja parliamentary member Siti Mariah Mahmud and Dr Asiah Ali.
Similarly the wing deputy and vice chief position will also probably see a contest with four candidates being eligible to contest the former post and three candidates eligible to contest for the latter.
Meanwhile there is no contest for the Ulama wing with Terengganu PAS deputy commissioner, Datuk Harun Taib and Johor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed winning the chief and vice-chief posts unopposed, respectively.
Contest however seems to be shaping up for the Ulama deputy chief between Hashim Jasin and Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.
The party selection committee chairman Datuk Mustafa Ali had last week announced possible contest for the party deputy and vice president post in an election he agreed to be more “intense” compared to years past.
Candidates have until May 25 to confirm their intention to contest.
Analysts had pointed out that the party election could be decisive to tune up the future direction of the party from its traditional rightist inclination to the centre.
PAS with its allies People’s Justice Party (KeADILan) and Democratic Action Party currently controlled 82 out of Malaysian 222 parliamentary seats after the landmark March 8 election last year which denied the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition its two-third majority for the first time in almost four decades.- ES _
Report: PPSMI – update 13
March 8, 2009
3.59pm – Jubilant protestors waving the retreating anti-riot police goodbyes .
The retreating anti-riot police being treated with a warm goodbyes
Report: PPSMI – update 12
March 8, 2009
3.46pm – Peaceful assembly inside the National Mosque.
Symbolically hoisted coffin making an appearance during the peaceful assembly at National Mosque
Report: PPSMI – update 11
March 8, 2009
The crowd was told to move back to National Mosque after a recitation of a brief pray
Report: PPSMI – update 10
March 8, 2009
2.45pm – Several rounds of tear gas kept being fired indiscriminately by the authority.
Several rounds of tear gas being fired indiscriminately
Report: PPSMI – update 9
March 8, 2009
2.35pm – Protestors move to a higher ground after they were fired upon with tear gas that fell a few metres behind them, blocking their path to retreat. They were already within several hundreds metres from the National Palace’s gate.
Protestors moving to higher ground to escape tear gas
