CSM for CPI: Is Malaysia facing an emergency?

By now, my closer buddies, especially in blogosphere, would have known I am doing my little for civil society as an Editor at the Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI), headed by Dr Lim Teck Ghee.

As I will be "on the move" for most of Monday July 14, 2008, a convenient Post at MBH (My Blue Heaven) is to Cut&Paste of the more important reports carried at www.cpiasia.net >>>>>>> www.cpiasia.org.

Cheers! ~~ Desi, hoping this won't turn out to be a blues Monday.


Is Malaysia facing an emergency?

Media Monitor
Written by Editor, CPI
Sunday, 13 July 2008 23:05
document.write(parent.prscreen)
SPECIAL REPORT

Slightly more than a week ago, the Police and Army held joint exercises in the capital city when the Police Chief, for the first time in the country, stated that if necessary, the Army would be called in to help maintain internal "security" normally handled by the Police. And in the leadup to the "Million people rally" at Kelana Jaya last Sunday, the Police had warned Malaysians not to take part at the rally organised by a group of NGOs and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to protest the government's fuel price hike.

The objective of the constant harping on security and warnings that the gathering was illegal succeeeded in creating a "climate of fear" but that did not stop some 20,000 people to flock to the stadium with a capacity for 50,000 to hear the evening's highlight -- PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speak. The event proceeded peacefully, which demonstrated the people in general are mature enough to gather peacefully in large numbers if only the Police plays its proper role in ensuring general civil security. (For the record, the organisers estimated that the day-long event chalked up some 50,000 participants as the people arrived in a stream from morning till night.)

Among other issues, Anwar cautioned Malaysians that the current government led by Datuk Seri Abdulllah Ahmad Badawi is not able to look after the people's geneeral wellbeing and livelihood, with rising inflation casued by the fuel price increase (40% for petrol and 60% for diesel respectively) which is not justifiable for an oil-producing country like Malaysia.

Today, a day before the Opposition-led initiative for a vote of "no confidence" in te Prime Minister at tomorrow's parliamentary sitting, the Barisan Nasional government has resorted to yet the same modus operandi -- to create a climate of fear as if the country is facing an Emergency. This will only compound the dire straits the country has found itself caught in post-March 8, 2008, and still the government leaders, chiefly from UMNO, continue to live with a "denial syndrome". And such intimations of governance using ways and means like in a military regime are not helping to restore confidence, especially among foreign investors and stakeholders in the stockmarket (Bursa Malaysia) which has seen a general downtrend for weeks now.

The following news break does not augur well at all for a parliamentray democarcy committed to attain First World status by 2020, a mere 12 years away. This calls from serious reflection by all concerned Malaysians to demand of their Government and leaders:

"Quo vadis; Where to, Malaysia?" -- YL Chong, Editor, CPI

_________________________________
2008/07/13

LATEST!

No rally allowed within 5km of Parliament House tomorrow

By Alang Bendahara, New Straits Times

July 13, 2008



KUALA LUMPUR, SUN:



Police today obtained a court order barring any rally from being held within a five-kilometre radius of Parliament House tomorrow. The ex-parte order was obtained from magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham of the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

The order, which was applied for by Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sofian Md Yassin, specifically prohibits Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his supporters from being in the area as well as holding any rally or participating in it.

The order stated that the Court had found Anwar to be planning to hold a rally on Monday at 10am to support a no-confidence motion to be tabled in Parliament against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Brickfields police deputy chief Superintendent Azri Abd Rahman said copies of the order were printed immediately after it was obtained.

“Our (Kuala Lumpur) districts received orders to post copies of the orders at public areas to notify the public,” he said yesterday.

Most major roads into the city experienced traffic jams this afternoon as police continued an operation, codenamed Ops Padam, which began at 2pm yesterday.

The police blockade mounted at 12 entry points, including the Federal Highway near the Kota Darul Ehsan arch and the Damansara-Puchong Expressway, had reduced traffic flow to a crawl.

It is learnt that policemen at the road blocks were told to be on the lookout for buses or vehicles carrying flags or banners of a particular political party.

Any vehicle with people wearing T-shirts or carrying posters of the political party would be stopped from entering the city.

City police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman told media yesterday that the roadblocks would continue until further notice.

He had also apologised to the public for any inconvenience caused.

Starting 7am tomorrow, all roads leading to Parliament House will be cordoned off to all but members of Parliament and those on duty there.