Public forum – Behind the Barricades: A Critical Analysis of Bersih 3.0
Invitation to Public Forum
In conjunction with the recent Bersih 3.0 rally, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and the Civil Rights Committee (CRC) of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall are pleased to invite you to a public forum.
Behind the Barricades: A Critical Analysis of Bersih 3.0
Date: Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Time: 8-10.30pm
Venue: Auditorium, KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
No.1, Jalan Maharajalela, KL
The speakers are:
- Syahredzan Johan, Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee chair, on legal issues surrounding the right to assemble and access to detainees
- E. Nalini, Suaram executive director, on police action and human rights standards on public order policing
- Masjaliza Hamzah, CIJ executive officer, on treatment of journalists at Bersih 3.0 and the media’s role in reporting on “crisis” situations
- Boon Kia Meng, educator, activist and participant of the Occupy Dataran movement, on being a protestor and the meaning of protests
The Bersih rally and issues surrounding it have been widely discussed in media and social media platforms and this forum hopes to capture that rich discussion in a face-to-face conversation. Specifically, it will look at various angles – law, media, security and freedom of assembly – to reveal a larger picture of what is unquestionably an important marker in this nation’s history.
CIJ and CRC are also hosting this to celebrate the role the media plays in a democracy, in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. We hope this forum is one of many occasions for us to come together toprocess what happened, analyse and learn from our experiences on 28 April 2012.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Thank you,
Liau Kok Fah and Masjaliza Hamzah
See poster here: Barricades poster
By Hussaini ABdul Karim on May 3, 2012
I was at the forum and had my chance to speak but it wasn’t enough so, I post here the other things that I wanted to say.
If the forum’s aim tonight was to talk about what happened at BERSIH 3.0, it scored full marks but if, following that, if they are discussing what we should do after that,which I think they should, the forum failed miserably.
First and foremost, having arrived only very slightly late but not missing much, I wasn’t sure if there was any ground rules set by the moderator Fuad Rahim (who is he?) or the panel members viz. Syahredzan Johan, Masjaliza Hamzah, Boon Kia Meng, Jason Tan and Nalini Elumalai, about what can be said and what cannot be said. Apparently, having heard the discussions, I believe there were was no ground rules set before the discussion at all and there were comments made by a panel member that borders on the ‘sensitive’, ‘seditious’ and ‘racist’ which should not be made at all!
Nalini Elumalai, the Suaram executive director, spoke as though she is always right and that she knows everything. At least that’s the impression I have of her. She also blabbered on non-pertinent points which prompted an ‘auntie’ to stop her but she didn’t take the cue from that. Alleging that the policemen on duty at BERSIH 3.0 acting on their own without orders from the top is a wild one. I suggest, the next time she sits on the panel, she checks the facts first and be prepared. As a former army officer, and having worked together with the police, I can categorically say that no policeman of a low rank will act without orders from his superior! So, about who ordered them to use tear gas at BERSIH, this has to be determined. The policemen on duty at BERSIH 3.0 were just carrying out their job.
About the moderator, I thing he failed in his duty and he even didn’t know how to address people correctly. It is normal for peus to address ladies or women who are much older than us as ‘Madam’ and not ‘Auntie’. This, manners and etiquette, he has to learn.
Someone asked if there’s anyone who can help get the police SOP. I can but I won’t, given the poor attitude of the moderator and that Suaram ED.
Syahredzan Johan, Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee chair and Masjaliza Hamzah, CIJ executive officer, were impressive.
Nevertheless, I like to share some inside information here since I mix with MPs and ADUNs of all political parties (I have many friends in all) and I believe the information I provide here are accurate. As far as the urban areas are concerned, the opposition will win hands down at GE 13 but that’s about all. All of us urban voters have our voting rights very much diluted. There are urban areas with more than 100,000 voters but they only represent one constituency and when compared to rural constituencies, some have as little as 5000 voters only and they still represent one constituency. There are 100 Malay constituencies (mostly rural), 75 Chinese constituencies (mixed) and the balance 47 (making the total 222) are mainly urban constituencies which mostly will go to PR if not all. So, my forecast is BN will win (80+38+10=118) or 53% of the electoral votes and they will continue to rule the country and Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak will still be Prime Minister. Only this much I know. However, knowing this, what would be PR’s strategy? There’s no way PR will win the elections and rule the country!
Additional point: Someone mentioned at the forum tonight about the National Education Dialogue which commenced last Sunday at PICC, Putrajaya, launched by the TPM/Education Minister YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and said many people wanted PPSMI to be reinstated and some asked for the re-introduction of English medium schools, among others, but unfortunately, I do not see these people at the dialogue. Most of the people who attended the first dialogue session last Sunday are teachers and less than 10% parents and activist. So, let’s make use of the opportunity that the government has offered us all and have a say in the preparing of the New National Education Plan for the sake of our children and the future citizens of Malaysia.
So, let’s put all our heads together and think of what to do next.
HUSSAINI ABDUL KARIM, Shah Alam