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Posted: 02 Aug 2011 11:23 PM PDT

BUTTERWORTH: Six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists were charged in the Sessions Court today for their association with an illegal society and possessing subversive documents without a valid reason.

They are Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, M. Sukumaran, 50, A. Letchumanan, 49, Choo Chon Kai, 33, M. Sarasvathy, 58, and R. Saratbabu, 25.
The six were charged under Section 48(1) of the Societies Act 1966, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, with having the common intention to assist an outlawed society, namely Bersih 2.0, by having with them 600 photostat copies of a banned leaflet.

The section provides for a jail term of up to five years or a fine of up to RM15,000, or both, upon conviction.

They face an alternative charge of assisting, with the common intention, by having in their possession 600 copies of the leaflet bearing the words "Perhimpunan Bersih 2.0" (Bersih 2.0 Assembly) intended for an outlawed society, namely Bersih 2.0, for the use of a Bersih 2.0 gathering to be held in Kuala Lumpur at 2 pm on July 9.

This charge, under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966 and read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, provides for a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to RM3,000, or both, upon conviction.

They also face another charge, with common intention, of having subversive documents without valid reason under Section 29 (1) of the Internal Security Act 1960, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a fine of up to RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
All the offences are alleged to have been committed in a bus bearing registration number NAW 6617 at the Sungai Dua toll plaza of the North-South Expressway at about 3.30 pm on June 25.

Judge Ikmal Hishan (rpt) Hishan Mohd Tajuddin set bail at RM8,000 per person and fixed Oct 10 to 14 for the trial, along with the trial of 23 other PSM activists also charged with similar offences.

DPP Suhaimi Ibrahim appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Datuk C.V. Prabakaran represented the accused persons. -- BERNAMA

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Ballot box holds sway in democracy

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:41 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Although the Bersih 2.0 marches on the streets of Kuala Lumpur took place more than three weeks ago, the cyberspace is still raging with a lot of debate on what should have been done and what should not.

Some claim that the marches, deemed illegal by the authorities, had been peaceful enough while others charge that the marchers were not above-board either.

As usual, it has been easy for many armchair critics to slam the authorities for their alleged lack of clarity and below-the-belt tactics on handling the demonstrators.

Commentators, prominent or otherwise, have often questioned why the government had created so much fuss about the demonstrations, which were touted as an expression of free speech.

The proponents claimed at the outset that the marches would be peaceful, something akin to the relatively tame candle-light vigil marches in Hong Kong to commemorate the Tiananmen student demonstrations.

But were the July 9 marches a stroll in the park? They weren't. Simply because Malaysia is no Hong Kong.

It is still rather perplexing why the ring leaders of the marches had wanted to expose their followers to potential hazards, all in the name of greater democratic space.

A certain degree of ambiguity begs one to question why the ring leaders of the marches did not hand over their eight-point demand to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at an audience they had with the King several days before July 9?

Why insist on marching on the streets when you already have the chance to explain to the monarch your aspiration for electoral reforms and development of the democratic process?

And the King had even advised that street demonstrations would bring more harm than good, although the original intention to amplify the aspiration for electoral reforms was good.

Although the authorities had disallowed the use of the Merdeka Stadium as a venue for the proposed Bersih 2.0 gathering, the ring leaders still insisted on having the demonstration there, throwing caution to the winds.

They had somewhat forgotten that the venue was close to very congested areas and also near a place where a lot of vitriol was spewed some 42 years ago during the funeral procession of a Labour Party member, which had sowed the seeds of discontent for further trouble in May 1969.

A former top law enforcement officer who had been through the Communist insurgency and May 13 riots said that fortunately nothing more harmful took place on July 9 other than sore eyes and muscle aches.

He said all it would have needed was for some riff-raff from either side to ignite the recipe for disaster.
The ring leaders may have their so-called noble intentions but how were they to control the rabble rousers at the back of the crowd intent to create trouble at the slightest provocation?

The July 9 marches were potentially a tinderbox for trouble amidst heightened tensions if the authorities had not acted firmly. We need to be thankful that nothing untoward happened on that day.

The government has announced its commitment to electoral reforms, which includes addressing the often-brought-up issue of phantom voters by having the biometric identification system.

There is no reason to doubt Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's pledge on this as he has been on the road for transformation since day one of his administration.

For those intent on upholding democracy, it is the ballot box that holds sway, not the chest beating, hair pulling, tear gas canisters nor water cannons seen at unsanctioned street processions. -- BERNAMA

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Selasa, 2 Ogos 2011

NST Online: Topnews

NST Online: Topnews

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