Aliran is horrified and outraged by the recent incident when a mob provocatively gate-crashed a peaceful forum organised by Anything But Umno (Abu)-Hindraf in Klang.
This incident should be condemned by all right-thinking members of our society.
The youthful-looking group’s violent and rowdy disruption of the peaceful forum is disturbing and alarming, all the more so when their blatant hooliganism did not receive a prompt response from the police force. In fact, Selangor police chief Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah even reportedly denied there had been any violent incidents that night.
It is feared that the apparent lack of prompt and appropriate action by the police in this matter may send a wrong signal to this disruptive group and others similarly inclined: that it is okay for them to disrupt peaceful gatherings of people exercising their democratic right to discuss ideas and opinions in a peaceful and civilised manner. It might also be misconstrued that that the mob had been sanctioned by the authorities to behave so atrociously.
To dispel any such notion, the powers-that-be must in no uncertain terms denounce this unruly and aggressive behaviour immediately. The longer the delay in coming up with such a response, the more difficult it would be for the police to convince the public that they mean business in dealing with unruly groups that take the law into their own hands.
Such violent and extreme behaviour has no place in a democratic society and cannot be tolerated – especially when the Prime Minister in a recent international conference reminded people of the virtue of moderation in our everyday lives. It is important to make it explicitly clear that we practise what we preach; otherwise we will come across as a hypocritical society in the eyes of the international community.
Besides, it is incumbent upon the Prime Minister and the police to promote the idea that, if you disagree with someone over a certain issue, the only course of action in a democratic and moderate society is to engage in civilised debate and hold a discussion with those with whom you disagree.
Aliran is encouraged that the police now seem to be taking action to apprehend those who displayed such shameful conduct, which could threaten our peace and harmony. We are happy that the thug who played such a prominent and aggressive role in this disruption and who has been positively identified has been detained by the police.
They should be charged under the harshest law as an example to others that hooligans cannot be allowed to roam freely, taking the law into their hands without suffering the consequence of their rowdyism.
Aliran calls upon the authorities to bring the culprits to justice and send a clear message to them and others so inclined that such violent reactions to the issues of the day can never be tolerated in a country that upholds the rule of law.
Aliran Executive Committee
25 January 2012
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Time Magazine quoted an economist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore as saying that the country might have lost as much as US$100 billion since the early 1980s to corruption (RM300 billion = 300,000 million). Perwaja RM10 billion. Forex fiasco early 90s RM30 billion. Maminco scandalRM 1.6 Billion. Bank Bumiputra Scandal RM10 billion. STAR-LRT bailout RM3.256 billion. RM 38.5 billion compensation to highway companies. Putra transport system, which cost RM4.486 billion. Maminco scandal RM 1.6 Billion. PKFZ 12 billion. Bank Islam RM700 million. M.V. Agusta & Proton lost RM 348 million. Wang Ehsan, oil royalty Terengganu RM7.4 billion. Philharmonic Orchestra has swallowed a total of RM500 million. Bailouts of Malaysia Airline System RM7.9 billion. Spent RM3.2 billion in teaching Maths and Science in English over 5 yrs. Jets and submarines to 2 private companies Perimeker & IMT Defence amounted to RM910 million. RM1.3 billion wasted building the white elephant Customs, Immig & Quarantine (CIQ) facilities on cancellation of the Scenic Bridge. National Service Training Programme yearly estimate of RM 500 million. RM 4.63 billion, ’soft-loan’ to PKFZ. RM250 in NFC Cowgate scandal. RM30billion with Sarawak’s CM (administration),… Read more »
Malaysia has neither transparency (non-corruption) nor real human rights, neither freedom of the media nor true democracy. The blacks are only 14% of US population, if Obama can be US President, an Indian or Dayak or Chinese can be a Malaysian PM…think about it! How tragically you’ve been treated.
You need a giant civil rights movement akin to that of great Martin Luther King. It is glaring apartheid in Malaysia … How can a race be treated superior to another… The crime of apartheid is defined by the 2002 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as inhumane acts of a character similar to other crimes against humanity” committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that regime.”
On 30 November 1973, the United Nations General Assembly opened for signature and ratification the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid.[1] It defined the crime of apartheid as “inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them.”
Wow! Stirred a hornet’s nest didn’t I? Even if its a split personality hornet. Anyway, made me laugh seeing the responses. My point about relying on the police (yes, they are actually quite effective at breaking up whatever ‘illegal’ gatherings that are held) is that, as a fairly civilized country, on the cusp of fully developed status, we cannot allow mob rule under any circumstances. But these pseudonyms, Abdul, Mr X, maybe even Permerhati even, do not agree. Or don’t, or pretend not to, understand. Are you ‘all’ members or friends of that mob in Jalan Kebun?
Isma! oh! Isma! Leave everything to the cops?? It’s you who should have your head examined and not someone’s else. Pemerhati and Mr.X are right. There are things you can do yourself without waiting for others to do for you. You can fight the wrong doers yourself instead of hiding under your blanket. If your house catches fire, do you just sit still and wait for the firefighters to arrive?? May be you will not even join the neighbors to put off the fire. He! He! He!
Abdul, Mr X, please stick to one pseudonym and avoid multiple handles.
Isma, how long have you been asleep?? Armed and uniformed officers to enforce the law?? How did these uniformed officers disperse the Bersih Rally?? Tear gas, batons etc etc. Dispersing the crowd in Jalan Kebun was very much milder. It’s every citizen’s right to uphold law and order in our country. You will be such a person who sees a theft in you neighbor’s house and be chicken enough not to do anything about it.You failed to realise our duties as citizens. Go to bed and let others take care of you. Your place is in the psychiatrist’s chair.
What actually is your point? Where is the contradiction? You agree the police can do the job, right?
Both Hindraf and ABU are unlawful organisations in Malaysia, and any gathering by them are unlawful too, therefore the public have the right to disrupt any unlawful gatherings to keep the peace and harmony of our beloved country. For those who had successfully dispersed the unlawful gathering of ABU and Hindraf, WELL DONE!!!!!!!
Ho, ho, ho – the public have the right to disrupt any unlawful gatherings to keep the peace and harmony of our beloved country? What country are you from man? Cowboy country? Are you not aware we have armed, uniformed officers to enforce the law in Malaysia? Your head needs examination! And if you act on your suggestions you will end up being served bread and stale bread in a free half star hotel.