Despite ban, yellow shirts swamp Dataran
The Merdeka Day eve countdown this year at Dataran Merdeka will see two activist groups join revellers, but the police are adamant they be kept at bay.
Gabungan Janji, a coalition of 47 NGOs, wants to converge at the northern-most point of Dataran Merdeka in yellow to pressure the government to fulfil its promises of electoral reform.
The police have declared Gabungan Janji's planned gathering illegal.
Another group aims to hold a brief demonstration along Jalan Sultan to pressure the government to preserve heritage buildings earmarked to make way for the MRT (Mass Rail Transit) project.
The crowd at Jalan Sultan are expected to join Gabungan Janji at about 10pm.
Meanwhile, about 25km away in Shah Alam, the Selangor government is hosting its own countdown event at Dataran Kemerdekaan.
LIVE REPORTS
9pm: Dataran Merdeka - People are begin to trickle in, gathering in front of the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad building. There is a slight drizzle, possibly keeping others at bay.
Ironically, a Kuala Lumpur City Hall sign at both ends ofthe Sultan Abdul Samad building reads: "This area is closed to all activity".
9.05pm: Jalan Sultan - A crowd is building up near the Gospel Hall Church. Speakers advocating for the preservation of buildings along Jalan Sultan are addressing supporters.
9.15pm: Jalan Sultan - Led by a lion dance troupe including two ‘lions’ and drums, the procession along Jalan Sultan has kicked off and there appears to be no attempts by the police to stop them.
Instead, a few dozen police and People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) personnel helped to direct traffic.
9.30pm: Shah Alam - Some 500 people are trickling into Dataran Kemerdekaan for the Selangor state government Merdeka Day eve event.
9.40pm: Dataran Merdeka - The number of revellers are swelling at Dataran Merdeka. Another group is seen near the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman-Jalan Tun Perak junction trumpeting away on their vuvuzelas.
9.45pm: Jalan Sultan - The crowd near Chinatown has now swelled to about 1,000 people. They chanted “Save Jalan Sultan” along the procession and formed a 500m human chain in single file from Lok Ann Hotel to the site of the former Klang Bus station which was recently demolished.
After reading their declaration again and singing Negaraku, organisers announced the end of the event and asked everyone to disperse.
However, many lingered on.
Even as of 10pm, many are still on the streets with crowds spontaneously breaking into songs such as ‘Rasa Sayang’, or shouting for others to go to Dataran Merdeka.
10.30pm: Dataran Merdeka - There are easily a few thousand people on or near the field now.
More vuvuzelas are seen among the pro-Bersih crowd.
10.45pm: Dataran Merdeka - An estimated 5,000 people are in Dataran Merdeka for the federal government organised countdown.
A stone's throw away, a multi-ethnic crowd of thousands more in yellow shirts are gathered near the northern-most police cordon and are trumpeting away on their vuvuzelas.
11.05pm: Shah Alam - At the Selangor Pakatan rally, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim recites Osman Awang’s poetry titled Merdeka to a crowd of 2,000 at Dataran Kemerdekaan.
He then shouts “Merdeka” three times and the crowd reciprocates.
11.30pm:Dataran Merdeka - The yellow shirt, led by Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson A Samad Said and Bersih secretariat member Maria Chin Abdullah, move away from Dataran Merdeka.
They regroup at an open area south adjacent to Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters to hear the national laureate recite a poem.
11.45pm: Dataran Merdeka - It is now a 15-minute wait before the clock strikes midnight and the countdown will begin.
The federal government's theme song Janji Ditepati is heard from Dataran Merdeka.
Some yellow shirts belt out the same as well, changing the lyrics toJanji Dicapati.
12am:-Dataran Merdeka - The yellow shirts sing 'Negaraku' at the stroke of midnight. Some left to enjoy the fireworks while others are dispersing in a cheerful mood.
12.20am - Dataran Merdeka - A Samad Said declares the Janji Demokrasi gathering a success but is unable to estimate a crowd figure.
Malaysiakinijournalists estimates that the yellow shirts number at 10,000.
“When I reached Dataran Merdeka, I found that the number (of yellow shirts) were beyond expectations. I was pleased to notice that they were mostly youths. This is important.
“This reflects the fact that they are aware that this is their era and their hands cause a regime change. I hope this happens,” he said.
After the countdown, A Samad and several Pakatan Rakyat leaders led a portion of the crowd on a short march towards Bandaraya LRT station before dispersing.
12.30am: Dataran Merdeka - Dang Wangi district police chief Zainuddin Ahmad told reporters that no untoward incidents were reported.
“We’ll investigate later (for any violations),” he said when asked about the yellow shirts.
He confirmed that two youths were arrested for setting off fireworks. It is unsure if the youths were part of the yellow shirts.
He said a total of 205 police personnel were at Dataran Merdeka to monitor proceedings.
Gabungan Janji, a coalition of 47 NGOs, wants to converge at the northern-most point of Dataran Merdeka in yellow to pressure the government to fulfil its promises of electoral reform.
The police have declared Gabungan Janji's planned gathering illegal.
Another group aims to hold a brief demonstration along Jalan Sultan to pressure the government to preserve heritage buildings earmarked to make way for the MRT (Mass Rail Transit) project.
The crowd at Jalan Sultan are expected to join Gabungan Janji at about 10pm.
Meanwhile, about 25km away in Shah Alam, the Selangor government is hosting its own countdown event at Dataran Kemerdekaan.
LIVE REPORTS
9pm: Dataran Merdeka - People are begin to trickle in, gathering in front of the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad building. There is a slight drizzle, possibly keeping others at bay.
Ironically, a Kuala Lumpur City Hall sign at both ends ofthe Sultan Abdul Samad building reads: "This area is closed to all activity".
9.05pm: Jalan Sultan - A crowd is building up near the Gospel Hall Church. Speakers advocating for the preservation of buildings along Jalan Sultan are addressing supporters.
9.15pm: Jalan Sultan - Led by a lion dance troupe including two ‘lions’ and drums, the procession along Jalan Sultan has kicked off and there appears to be no attempts by the police to stop them.
Instead, a few dozen police and People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) personnel helped to direct traffic.
9.30pm: Shah Alam - Some 500 people are trickling into Dataran Kemerdekaan for the Selangor state government Merdeka Day eve event.
9.40pm: Dataran Merdeka - The number of revellers are swelling at Dataran Merdeka. Another group is seen near the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman-Jalan Tun Perak junction trumpeting away on their vuvuzelas.
9.45pm: Jalan Sultan - The crowd near Chinatown has now swelled to about 1,000 people. They chanted “Save Jalan Sultan” along the procession and formed a 500m human chain in single file from Lok Ann Hotel to the site of the former Klang Bus station which was recently demolished.
After reading their declaration again and singing Negaraku, organisers announced the end of the event and asked everyone to disperse.
However, many lingered on.
Even as of 10pm, many are still on the streets with crowds spontaneously breaking into songs such as ‘Rasa Sayang’, or shouting for others to go to Dataran Merdeka.
10.30pm: Dataran Merdeka - There are easily a few thousand people on or near the field now.
More vuvuzelas are seen among the pro-Bersih crowd.
10.45pm: Dataran Merdeka - An estimated 5,000 people are in Dataran Merdeka for the federal government organised countdown.
A stone's throw away, a multi-ethnic crowd of thousands more in yellow shirts are gathered near the northern-most police cordon and are trumpeting away on their vuvuzelas.
11.05pm: Shah Alam - At the Selangor Pakatan rally, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim recites Osman Awang’s poetry titled Merdeka to a crowd of 2,000 at Dataran Kemerdekaan.
He then shouts “Merdeka” three times and the crowd reciprocates.
11.30pm:Dataran Merdeka - The yellow shirt, led by Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson A Samad Said and Bersih secretariat member Maria Chin Abdullah, move away from Dataran Merdeka.
They regroup at an open area south adjacent to Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters to hear the national laureate recite a poem.
11.45pm: Dataran Merdeka - It is now a 15-minute wait before the clock strikes midnight and the countdown will begin.
The federal government's theme song Janji Ditepati is heard from Dataran Merdeka.
Some yellow shirts belt out the same as well, changing the lyrics toJanji Dicapati.
12am:-Dataran Merdeka - The yellow shirts sing 'Negaraku' at the stroke of midnight. Some left to enjoy the fireworks while others are dispersing in a cheerful mood.
12.20am - Dataran Merdeka - A Samad Said declares the Janji Demokrasi gathering a success but is unable to estimate a crowd figure.
Malaysiakinijournalists estimates that the yellow shirts number at 10,000.
“When I reached Dataran Merdeka, I found that the number (of yellow shirts) were beyond expectations. I was pleased to notice that they were mostly youths. This is important.
“This reflects the fact that they are aware that this is their era and their hands cause a regime change. I hope this happens,” he said.
After the countdown, A Samad and several Pakatan Rakyat leaders led a portion of the crowd on a short march towards Bandaraya LRT station before dispersing.
12.30am: Dataran Merdeka - Dang Wangi district police chief Zainuddin Ahmad told reporters that no untoward incidents were reported.
“We’ll investigate later (for any violations),” he said when asked about the yellow shirts.
He confirmed that two youths were arrested for setting off fireworks. It is unsure if the youths were part of the yellow shirts.
He said a total of 205 police personnel were at Dataran Merdeka to monitor proceedings.
Nobody can protect you better than yourself! Trust your instincts and fight back! It is a sad reflection on our society that we Malaysian feel unsafe and... Hopefully the Army and PDRM would have the same Pride to resign enblock If PR wins the GE 13, then we can say they are anak Jantan.The Polce and Army do not know their place in an elected democracy. They only know BN democracy. Pendatang-Living-In-Malaysia, have you been smoking weed again, if PR wins the GE 13, the crime rateswill not sky rocket upwards But the Police would be busy patroling the streets as they should or they may have to look for a New job as street sweepers, the Police are like Lalang weed they bend with the wind.the state's responsibilty for ensuring CITIZEN safety at all times. focused on our politicians' moral and legislative responsibility to make sure that our cities are safe. True are living in a society of massive dichotomies- cultural, educational and economic. Notwithstanding that the Police has only one and one mandate to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens, particularly women who are more vulnerable. And our political clasa and the mandarins in the home ministry must ensure that the police is made to anda llowed to carry out this mandate without fear or favour and at all times. As is well said, " the state and level of a society and country is judged by the respect and honour it bestows upon its women".
nation now is divided. Years and years of abuse , repression and suppression hv caused this. The populace is trying to grow up but the umnois pushing us down . All this is fear for the wrongs they have done. It's the right time we act now otherwise we will hv no future. 1st get rid of all the useless corrupted plundering umno barisan police and the armyleaders. Time for CHANGE is now.It is now proven that PDRM is indeed the Pigs, Dogs, Rats and Monkeys and the Armed Forces equally a cowardly running dogs of the bnumno. Are they the private militia of the dumno bastards? What happens when PR wins the 13GE? Will they ship out and a new Police and military force set up? Idiotic IGP and The Chief of the armed forces Fuck-off your posts and the two bastard Ministers wonk yourselves to death. with this pdrm and the army have proven they are umno-bn thugs and not civil servants, but with their pays coming from the Rakyat's coffers. Non political my arse!Finally transparency from the police and army that they are beholden to UMNO and the state has no control over these entities what-so-ever. Now all the violence at protests from police can be understood clearly. It's high time that the state and federal police fell under their proper heads of government and not all under one roof with the home minister.PDRM and the army are so into politics that they forget their responsiblity. Their actions shows that they are the defender to UMNO and not the people. The people of Selangor voted in Pakatan as the government of the day and yet this misguided and confused defender of the people has chosen to go against the people to show their support to UMNO. What will happen if the majority of people choose to further the cause on change seen in the last election by voting in PR, where do PDRM and the army come into the picture in this?The defenders and protectors of UMNO's vital interests (in political survival) cannot be portrayed publicly as siding with Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan. All the defenders and protectors are eating out of UMNO's hands and do you reckon they will be allowed to show support for Anwar? No way! Only a change of government will reveal our eyes as to their true colours. But then again they cannot refuse to support a legitimately elected Pakatan government if the latter secures a resounding victory this coming GE 13. Surely there'll be a shifting of the musical chairs and their loyalties truly tested to the limits.
Gujarat's encounter specialist and suspended super cop D.G, Vanzara who is in Ahmedabad jail alleged involved in many fake encounters of Muslims including Mumbai based ishrat Jahan, once again opened pandora box by writing some anti-Muslim poems in his books recently.
Former Director General of Police S S Khandwawala launched poetry books written by suspended cop D G Vanzara in a function organised by Sabarmati Central Jail authorities last week. Shabir Khandwawala is also known as the stooge of Narendra Modi. Vanzara, an undertrial prisoner in the Sohrabuddin encounter case, is lodged in the jail since 2007.
During his speech, an emotional Vanzara reminisced his days in the police force and showered praises on Khandwawala with whom he has worked, calling the former DGP a “wonderful human being” and a “good officer”.
He went on to say: “On behalf of all the prisoners I thank the officers present here.”
Vanzara’s books contain 270 poems written on a range of subjects — Sachin Tendulkar, Anna Hazare, Osama bin Laden, July 26 blasts and Kasab to name a few — over the last five years. He has also penned a few lines on his sons Parth and Arjun.
Vanzara’s take on jihadis in his book is likely to create controversy, sources said. It reads:
Wahabeeo ni aulado ne,
Nirday thai ne maro;
Chagdi nakho jehadioney,
Sindhu par bhagavo.
Jinnah chhe ek maha jehadi,
Tena geet na gao;
Masali nakho mavalio ne,
Sindhu par bhagavo.
(Kill the children of the Wahabis mercilessly and crush the jihadis; Jinnah is a jihadi, don’t sing his songs; crush these anti-social elements and send them across the Sindhu).
Reacting sharply, social activist and riot affected Dr. J.S. Bandukwala said in a statement that this is shameful for the Muslims of Gujarat. Khadwawala forgot that at least 15 innocent Muslims lost their lives in fake encounters carried out by Vanzara to please Modi. Moreover, it is believed that Shorabuddin's wife Kausar was even raped before being killed. Now, to our shame a prominent Muslim has honoured such a man in public.Muslims in India, particularly in Gujarat, are very sensitive to prominent Muslims bowing down to those who have caused great harm to the community. The manner in which the Dawoodi Bohra head priest, the Syedna, has gone out of his way to please Narendra Modi is shocking. In spite of the huge loss suffered by Bohras during the 2002 tragedy, the Syedna made immediate peace with Modi, and publicly felicitated him in the Surat, within months f the 2002 killings, he added.
That relationship continues to this day, with Bohras being the main Muslim participants in Modi's Sadbhavna fasts. Oddly, one of the Bohra priest even fell on Modi's feet in public. Modi has used this Bohra acceptance to claim that Muslims in Gujarat have now forgotten the 2002 events. Further, he has succeeded in dividing the Muslim community, Dr. Bandukwala claimed.
Similar developements occured a week ago when Najma Heptullah went out of her way to be win the BJP nomination to the Rajya Sabha. She has already been in the Rajya Sabha for at least 30 years, benefittng from her claim as the niece of Maulana Azad.What was the need for her to go so far to win L.K.Advani's favour, when he was the very man who destroyed Babri Masjid.
[Sanjiv Bhatt, the victimised police officer in Gujarat, says that he is hurling accusations against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the state because he has ample evidence. He says that he was with the state intelligence in 2002 and is privy to a lot of information. Sanjiv Bhatt bares his heart out to our senior colleague and IMO Bureau Chief (Gujarat) Abdul Hafiz Lakhani in a freewheeling interview, in which he says he is a depository of many events that transpired in 2002 during anti-Muslim pogrom in the state
Q: The country hardly knew Sanjiv Bhatt till recently. Suddenly you are everywhere, with several calling you a ‘Singham’. Do you give Chief Minister Narendra Modi credit for this?
A: I would not like to comment on this. These actions are those of a desperate man heading a desperate government; of an autocrat ill-advised by smart bureaucrats who say what he likes to hear. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have got me arrested on frivolous charges.
You have been raising one controversial issue after another.
Q: And your target has been Modi?
A: I have evidence of what I say. I was with the state intelligence in 2002 and am privy to a lot of information. I am a depository of many events that transpired in 2002. I have deposed before the SIT, before the SC amicus curiae and before the Nanavati Commission.
Q: Did you expect your arrest?
A: I was prepared for it. My entire family was prepared for it. We had detached ourselves from the consequences of this fight.
Q: So nothing worried you while you were being arrested?
A: Of course I was worried about my wife and my family. I did not know how my wife Shweta would take it. But she is much stronger mentally and emotionally. My daughter came down from Mumbai and my son was hurt in a fire during protests. All this did worry me.
Q: You said you have evidence in the Haren Pandya case, which you got from the accused when they were lodged in the Sabarmati jail. Was the Haren Pandya case, which is a sensitive issue for the state government, the trigger?
A: A whole lot of things. I was to meet a retired IPS officer and the meeting had been fixed for October 1 over the phone. I was picked up a day before the meeting. I believe the scheduled meeting was the trigger.
Q: Now that you are out, have you rescheduled the meeting?
A: Of course... (laughs).
Q: Of course You were the superintendent Sabarmati jail. And then you became a prisoner there...
A: I felt at home. I had done my bit as the superintendent. I am part of the soul of the jail. When I worked here, I could not sleep at night. I believed there was a lot to be done there.
Q: Was it tough to stay there? Were you treated well?
A: It was not tough at all. I ran, exercised and had home-made food. I read the book Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, which I had earlier read in 1987 when I was courting Shweta. It is her favourite book and she passed it on to me. I was treated as per norms. I demanded no special treatment and none was given. I want the state government to exhaust all the remedies they have for me.
Q: Where does your battle go from here?
A: It will follow the natural course. I will answer my call of duty. Nothing changes. It just adds to the purpose, to my resolve.
Q: Do you feel victimised by the state government?
A: I am not victimised by any one. The government did what it wanted, and I am doing what I have to do to get justice. It is not a fight against the government, rather it’s my own struggle to get justice and bring the truth out.
Q: What about spying on your family when you were in jail?
A: You know it better than me, as everyone has seen the way the police department acted against me and my family. I am ashamed to be a Gujarat cadre IPS officer and I deeply regret that I have to lead such a police department.
Q: How was your experience inside the jail as an inmate?
A: I was treated well inside the jail and I didn’t have any trouble at all. I maintained my routine of jogging and running in the morning.
Q: Are you aware of the government’s plans to reopen your old cases?
A: I am a police officer, and we are never afraid of cases. It’s been 24 years in the force, so I am fully prepared.
Q: What about K D Panth’s affidavit case?
A: The truth will come out if an independent agency investigates the case.
Q: What are your future plans?
A I don’t have any future plans. It’s an ongoing battle for truth, and I am prepared to face it up front.
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