Day: September 14, 2016

Suaram denounces death of prisoner in custody

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Source: The Star Online

Pic taken from FMT News

Pic taken from FMT News

PETALING JAYA: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has decried the death of Azri Mohamed, who died while in custody, allegedly from being beaten while in the Pengkalan Chepa prison.

It was earlier reported that the 27-year-old had been rushed to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II’s Intensive Care Unit on Aug 15 and had lapsed into a coma after undergoing surgery.

He was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning.

“Suaram was deeply concerned when it was informed by the family of the victim that although he was beaten until his health reached a critical condition, there has yet to be any investigation by the relevant authorities,” said Suaram’s executive director Sevan Doraisamy in a statement on Wednesday.

Sevan said that the use of violence against prisoners not only contravened Malaysian law but also international law and the Inspector-General of Police’s Standing Orders (IGSO).

Read more →

Past rallies focused more on urban issues, admits Maria

Raevathi Supramaniam

Source: FMT

PETALING JAYA: Bersih 2.0’s steering committee has realised that its previous rallies focused more on issues affecting urban folks generally.

This may explain why most participants of last year’s Bersih rally comprised Malaysian Chinese, with only a small group from the rural areas showing up.

Hence, Bersih will embark on a nationwide tour to ensure the fifth instalment of its rally represents the whole make-up of multiracial Malaysia.

The electoral watchdog’s chairman, Maria Chin Abdullah, said the Bersih convoy will begin on Oct 1 and will focus on educating the public, especially those from the rural areas, on the purpose of the Bersih 5 rally. Read more →

Seven reasons that will make Bersih 5’s war cry resonate nationwide — JD Lovrenciear

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Source: Malaysiakini

BY JD LOVRENCIEAR

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah holding a press conference on September 14, 2016 to announce the date of the electoral watchdog’s Bersih 5 street rally. — Picture by Kamles Kumar

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah holding a press conference on September 14, 2016 to announce the date of the electoral watchdog’s Bersih 5 street rally. — Picture by Kamles Kumar

Bersih has just announced that Nov 19 is the date for Bersih 5. The very line-up of Malaysians of various ethnic origins at the press conference in the meaningful, striking but once outlawed yellow T-shirts is enough to charge up the rakyat’s hope for a better nation.

Its clarion call, ‘Stand United, New Malaysia’ certainly is a well-thought and wisely-chosen theme that echoes the sentiments, hopes, fears and pains of the times.

Having won the court cases heaped upon Bersih by the Najib Abdul Razak regime, this Bersih 5 is bound to inspire even sheepish fence-sitters to stand up and be counted.

Going by the past four attempts’ track record of Bersih rallies, Malaysians will once again prove to the world that indeed they are not savage, brutish, uncouth trouble rouses but peaceful citizens who care enough for their nation’s long-term future.

If any dark forces are tempted to unleash their thuggish ‘dedak’ forces upon this defining date, they better be wiser for the times have changed drastically this time around of Bersih 5. Read more →

Bersih 5 on November 19

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah holding a press conference on September 14, 2016 to announce the date of the electoral watchdog’s Bersih 5 street rally. — Picture by Kamles Kumar

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah holding a press conference on September 14, 2016 to announce the date of the electoral watchdog’s Bersih 5 street rally. — Picture by Kamles Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah today announced that the fifth edition of the electoral watchdog’s street rally will be held on November 19.

She also announced that the group will conduct a roadshow across the country a month before the protest.

“Bersih 2.0 will launch a nationwide Bersih convoy on Saturday, 1 October 2016, which will culminate towards a Bersih 5 rally on Saturday, 19 November 2016,” she told reporters during a press conference today.

The convoy would be throughout the country including Sabah and Sarawak and would aim to “start a nationwide conversation” on the crises that Malaysia is facing.

“On Oct 1, Bersih will launch the Bersih convoy across the nation. The flag off will simulate would take place in 6 region and they are as follows Northern Peninsular (Kangar Perlis), Southern Peninsular (Johor Bahru, Johor), East Coast (Kota Bharu, Kelantan), West Coast (Lumut, Perak), Sabah (Sandakan) and Sarawak (Miri),” Maria said.

The convoy will feature “Bersih torches” that will be passed throughout the 246 stops planned. Read more →