The Resurgence
Jul 17th, 2008 by Tian
The Parliament became less exciting after the debates on Anwar’s arrest.
I left the Parliament at about 18:00hr and went straight to KL Police HQ (IPK). I felt like deja vu all over. In a time of crisis like this, we always count on the people.
Roads towards the IPK had been blocked by police. A large crowd had already assembled at the front of the police station. We again witnessed the resurgence of Reformasi atmosphere.
CheguBard called people together and handed me the microphone.
I urged supporters to stay calm and be resolute in upholding the principle of peaceful struggle. Reformasi activists have gone through 10 years of struggle together. We has a proud record of non-violence: no car/property ever been destroyed. The police have no excuse to take harsh action.
As I was speaking, the police got agitated. The FRU were ready to charge.
I then negotiated with the OCPD to allow the crowd to stay on. Finally OCPD consented to allow supporters standing at both sides of the Jalan Bukit Bintang. He requested us not to give any speeches or hold up banners. To avoid confrontation, we agreed.
After we settled the deal with police, I entered into IPK. Again I requested to visit Anwar. The officers were non-committal and I was asked to wait in the canteen.
At about 19:45hr, I was told by Sivarasa who was acting Anwar’s legal counsel that they were still at the 7th Floor undergoing questioning. It took about 5 hours to record the statement from Anwar.
At about 20:00hr, Sivarasa alerted us that Anwar had completed his statement and would be brought to hospital for examination.
Despite heavy guarding from police, I managed to greet him as he came out from the lift while being escorted to the car.
After that, I went out and joined the crowd. I gave another speech to update our supporters. More people continued to pour in.
At 20:30hr, I lightened a candle to officiate the candle light vigil.
Yeah, deja vu seems to be the very best word to describe what everyone feels right now (at least those of us who are old enough). Remember the water canons, remember the red (or was it orange?) sprays, remember Masjid Jamek, remember you sitting in front of the truck, remember…? OMG, so many memories comes back like it was just yesterday…
But while the feeling is strangely the same, but in reality it is not. All you guys (reformasi gang) are older and wiser now. While you were nobody back then, today many of you are MPs and leaders…While any of your stupidity back then could simply be brushed aside as foolishness of youth, today any wrong moves will be cruelly scrutinized, criticized and put under the microscope to be used against you as well as to the detriment of the many people you lead…Don’t just win the battle but lose the war…My prayers are with you. May the righteous reign…and the snakes burn forever!!…
You have my highest respect. Thank you.
Dear YB,
Just like KC above, you have my highest respect. Thank You
YB,
I saw the way the crowd behaved and also the leaders of PKR who monitored and managed the crowd whilst achieving the purposes it was set out for. GREAT JOB! Protest! But peaceably. Great wisdom. True, please don’t win a battle and lose the war.
We are behind you.
You guys and fellow Malaysians must stand up and be counted to defense the basic human rights….right to protest and be heard.
But do watch out for dirty tactic played by the other side.
Perhaps there’s some civility or a sense of shame within the MCA at lest coming from this group statement. Lest there be any need for condescending after all a statement isn’t enough today; considering the inaction from these groups as against the the overall public detestations and the magnitude of despicable shamelessness from the components.e.g.
“Let the court decide on the sodomy issue,” said Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.
These guys just don’t get eh. We do not trust rely on or have faith in the courts, not only the court but all institutions of gomen except the opposition - not even parliament is justice and a genuine interest of the people is guaranteed. Even in their own personal capacity BN/UMNO officials affiliates sympathisers we passionately come to dislike at this juncture in our contemporary lives. These vagrants just add nausea whenever they are heard or seen in public. There’s nothing constructive futuristic or promising about these people any more. The mere mention of their name sake even their off-spring into public corporate ordinary life reaches fever pitch antagonism. Just go! Goooooooo! My wife and I switch between channels whenever these morons appear on the TV- it doesn’t matter what they have to say, we discontinue news papers delivery to our home , we don’t spare time to ready the ones that are free at the office and we take the free SUN at the guard house every 3 days to lay bed for the kids Hamsters at home - seriously! not even a glance. it is also what they shit on.
salam bro tian chua,
i have read about your complaint regarding the difficulties that DSAI may face because of the day of the voting. i was thinking of the same thing and have come up with a few ideas. i hope these will be of some help
what PR could do is that we meet the employers to give time for their employees to go out and cast their votes. it is just a one day event, and this can be turned into our advantage if we approach it smartly.
the concern is that voters are mainly from workers class in the industry sector. they make up a large amount of voters and i too share the same concern. hence, it would be great if we take the initiative to give these voters the opportunity to cast their vote.
the ball is in the employers park. they can show support for a better future by allowing their employees to go out and vote. i am confident that they too would like DSAI to be the prime minister.
there are many ways that can be done, for example, the employees can take half day leave to cast vote, or maybe a few hours leave to do so. they can also take turn to cast their vote.
i urge the PR youth to take proactive actions to encourage voters turnout. people already know who they are going to vote for and we know who they are likely to vote for. the numbers are already with us. it is our responsibility to make this victory possible!