Sadly, that poster is relevant to almost every country on this planet.
You stand up and make that difference.
Be proud to be Malaysian.
I know I am.
Showing posts with label Police Brutality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Police Brutality. Show all posts
Monday, 1 September 2014
National Farm
Sadly, that poster is relevant to almost every country on this planet.
You stand up and make that difference.
Be proud to be Malaysian.
I know I am.
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Policing The Police
I had loads of ex-classmates from high school who went on to further their education in the United States. A few years later in the workplace, many of my co-workers had come back to Malaysia to work after graduating.
Many do stay on and work in the USA, but most of them did come back, though with moans and groans about the inefficiency of Kuala Lumpur, civil service, internet broadband and numerous other grouses.
Those who came back were the lucky ones, whether or not they know it.
They may be subject to Malaysia's village idiot brand of racism from the BN government and its stooges, especially the middle-class Chinese.
The Indians occasionally get looked down upon by the lower-class Chinese (those who think they are a bit superior than the rest, and who really, ought to be the victims of the BN government, instead of the middle-class). And a rather alarming number of under-class Indians have been killed by the police while under custody for "questioning", which, by the way, we should constantly be monitoring.
And the Malays? They're forced to conform to peer pressure and social convention on how they should dress, talk, and whom they should spend their time with.
Extremely annoying for those 3 main races - I did not go through the other races from East Malaysia because they generally fall under the Chinese and Malay categories - occasionally fatal, but for the most part, not stressful on a daily basis.
I have ranted against the BN government for this, and called Malaysia a third-world country for its miserably counter-productive mentality.
But nothing compares to the stress that African-Americans go through, living in the USA.
If you ever thought that the US was the bastion of liberty, please end that thought this very minute, for nothing is further from the truth.
Everyday, a black or brown person is harassed and abused, simply because of the colour of their skin.
In Malaysia, for the most part, the cops are able to tell what social class one comes from, based on how one dresses, talks and carries oneself.
But the white American cops seem devoid of this skill. For them, a black person - regardless of social class, income, profession - is considered a criminal. And they are treated as such.
If you were stopped once a year and questioned by the police, you would not display a defensive attitude towards being under suspicion. But if it happened almost everyday, you would grow weary and start exerting your rights.
A case in point is this black man in Minnesota who was asked to produce an ID for no reason at all.
He very clearly states that he was sitting on a public bench waiting for his children to come out of their daycare.
He was not causing any trouble at all, and was simply minding his own business.
There was absolutely no reason for him to be questioned.
I am unable to see his face because the camera does not point at him, only the female thug in uniform who is trying to interrogate him. Respectable-looking woman, but nevertheless a thug.
Based on his voice alone, I am able to tell that he is an educated man, and he has a clear purpose for being there: he is waiting for his children.
Despite explaining all this to the female officer, he is still asked to produce identification without being told what his offence was.
Take note here, that if he had indeed committed an infraction of the law, the police officer is duty-bound to inform him at this point.
She does not.
He is then accosted by a male police thug and subsequently arrested with unnecessary use of force.
Later on Facebook, the St Paul police department claim that the man was trespassing.
This is clearly bullshit as there were no signs put up, because the man verbally pointed that out and the female thug did not correct him.
Yet, the police department have brazenly posted "their side of the story" (a complete lie) and blamed a non-infraction on the victim.
At no point was the man trespassing. At no point in the video do I detect any disorderly conduct. The only obstruction of the legal process was committed by the thugs in uniform.
So why are the thugs in uniform doing this? What purpose does this serve?
You know what apartheid is? Segregation? It was alive and well until the 60s. What a depraved society.
What is even more repulsive is that the white majority does not want the black minority to have access to the same privileges that they do. So whenever a non-white person is found in a "white" area, the police are called to remove the "nuisance".
For that reason, submissively complying by producing one's identification is pointless, because they are never interested in who the black person is; otherwise, they would be observing his dress and mannerisms to assess if he was genuinely a threat.
It is all about bullying.
The United States of America is nation that is severely in decline. To be fair, it's the entire western civilisation that is nearing its end.
People have been too obsessively materialistic to concern themselves with how the police behave. And the police think they are above the law.
To call them law enforcement would be to describe them incorrectly, because they break the law, not enforce it.
A lot of Asians who want to live in the US think, "Ah well, that only happens to black people, it won't happen to me."
Think twice.
The former Chief Operating Officer of Napster, Milton Olin Jr, was killed when a police patrol car collided with the bicycle he was riding.
Olin was in his bicycle lane, but the police officer was using his computer while driving and got distracted. He ran over the man, killing him instantly.
However, he was not charged for his reckless behaviour because "prosecutors noted that a state law banning drivers from using wireless electronic devices while driving exempts police officers and other emergency professionals."
Right.
But check out what the police officer claimed at first: "Wood initially said that Olin had swerved from the bicycle lane on Mullholland Highway into the path of his patrol car."
That's a blatant lie because the district attorney's office concluded that “evidence examined in this investigation shows that this tragic collision occurred as a result of Deputy Wood crossing into the bicycle lane.”
The police officer could have stopped his car or parked at the side of the road to attend to his computer. But he didn't, and that resulted in the loss of an innocent man's life.
And the whole time, he was protected by the police department. The people who are supposed to serve and protect the citizens are protecting themselves. Woe betide those who go against them; more so if you're a black police officer.
The US of A is fast becoming a failed state. It is no longer a place to go to fulfill your dreams or raise your children.
We need to make Malaysia that place. We have awoken from our slumber and are more politically aware and sensitive.
It is now just about taking responsibility and bringing out the best in our fellow citizens, regardless of race, religion or creed.
Happy Merdeka!
RELATED:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Jon Stewart Goes After Fox in Powerful Ferguson Monologue
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Ferguson, MO and Police Militarization (HBO)
Many do stay on and work in the USA, but most of them did come back, though with moans and groans about the inefficiency of Kuala Lumpur, civil service, internet broadband and numerous other grouses.
Those who came back were the lucky ones, whether or not they know it.
They may be subject to Malaysia's village idiot brand of racism from the BN government and its stooges, especially the middle-class Chinese.
The Indians occasionally get looked down upon by the lower-class Chinese (those who think they are a bit superior than the rest, and who really, ought to be the victims of the BN government, instead of the middle-class). And a rather alarming number of under-class Indians have been killed by the police while under custody for "questioning", which, by the way, we should constantly be monitoring.
And the Malays? They're forced to conform to peer pressure and social convention on how they should dress, talk, and whom they should spend their time with.
Extremely annoying for those 3 main races - I did not go through the other races from East Malaysia because they generally fall under the Chinese and Malay categories - occasionally fatal, but for the most part, not stressful on a daily basis.
I have ranted against the BN government for this, and called Malaysia a third-world country for its miserably counter-productive mentality.
But nothing compares to the stress that African-Americans go through, living in the USA.
If you ever thought that the US was the bastion of liberty, please end that thought this very minute, for nothing is further from the truth.
Everyday, a black or brown person is harassed and abused, simply because of the colour of their skin.
In Malaysia, for the most part, the cops are able to tell what social class one comes from, based on how one dresses, talks and carries oneself.
But the white American cops seem devoid of this skill. For them, a black person - regardless of social class, income, profession - is considered a criminal. And they are treated as such.
If you were stopped once a year and questioned by the police, you would not display a defensive attitude towards being under suspicion. But if it happened almost everyday, you would grow weary and start exerting your rights.
He very clearly states that he was sitting on a public bench waiting for his children to come out of their daycare.
He was not causing any trouble at all, and was simply minding his own business.
There was absolutely no reason for him to be questioned.
I am unable to see his face because the camera does not point at him, only the female thug in uniform who is trying to interrogate him. Respectable-looking woman, but nevertheless a thug.
Based on his voice alone, I am able to tell that he is an educated man, and he has a clear purpose for being there: he is waiting for his children.
Despite explaining all this to the female officer, he is still asked to produce identification without being told what his offence was.
Take note here, that if he had indeed committed an infraction of the law, the police officer is duty-bound to inform him at this point.
She does not.
He is then accosted by a male police thug and subsequently arrested with unnecessary use of force.
Later on Facebook, the St Paul police department claim that the man was trespassing.
This is clearly bullshit as there were no signs put up, because the man verbally pointed that out and the female thug did not correct him.
Yet, the police department have brazenly posted "their side of the story" (a complete lie) and blamed a non-infraction on the victim.
At no point was the man trespassing. At no point in the video do I detect any disorderly conduct. The only obstruction of the legal process was committed by the thugs in uniform.
So why are the thugs in uniform doing this? What purpose does this serve?
You know what apartheid is? Segregation? It was alive and well until the 60s. What a depraved society.
What is even more repulsive is that the white majority does not want the black minority to have access to the same privileges that they do. So whenever a non-white person is found in a "white" area, the police are called to remove the "nuisance".
For that reason, submissively complying by producing one's identification is pointless, because they are never interested in who the black person is; otherwise, they would be observing his dress and mannerisms to assess if he was genuinely a threat.
It is all about bullying.
The United States of America is nation that is severely in decline. To be fair, it's the entire western civilisation that is nearing its end.
People have been too obsessively materialistic to concern themselves with how the police behave. And the police think they are above the law.
To call them law enforcement would be to describe them incorrectly, because they break the law, not enforce it.
A lot of Asians who want to live in the US think, "Ah well, that only happens to black people, it won't happen to me."
Think twice.
The former Chief Operating Officer of Napster, Milton Olin Jr, was killed when a police patrol car collided with the bicycle he was riding.
Olin was in his bicycle lane, but the police officer was using his computer while driving and got distracted. He ran over the man, killing him instantly.
However, he was not charged for his reckless behaviour because "prosecutors noted that a state law banning drivers from using wireless electronic devices while driving exempts police officers and other emergency professionals."
Right.
But check out what the police officer claimed at first: "Wood initially said that Olin had swerved from the bicycle lane on Mullholland Highway into the path of his patrol car."
That's a blatant lie because the district attorney's office concluded that “evidence examined in this investigation shows that this tragic collision occurred as a result of Deputy Wood crossing into the bicycle lane.”
The police officer could have stopped his car or parked at the side of the road to attend to his computer. But he didn't, and that resulted in the loss of an innocent man's life.
And the whole time, he was protected by the police department. The people who are supposed to serve and protect the citizens are protecting themselves. Woe betide those who go against them; more so if you're a black police officer.
The US of A is fast becoming a failed state. It is no longer a place to go to fulfill your dreams or raise your children.
We need to make Malaysia that place. We have awoken from our slumber and are more politically aware and sensitive.
It is now just about taking responsibility and bringing out the best in our fellow citizens, regardless of race, religion or creed.
Happy Merdeka!
RELATED:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Jon Stewart Goes After Fox in Powerful Ferguson Monologue
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Ferguson, MO and Police Militarization (HBO)
Monday, 18 August 2014
Tear-Gassing Protesters
Oh America.
How much like Malaysia thou hast become.
Ben Jennings on the Michael Brown shooting – cartoon
How much like Malaysia thou hast become.
Ben Jennings on the Michael Brown shooting – cartoon
Ferguson
No, this post is not about the highly successful long-time manager of Manchester United.
Nor is it about the female singer of Black-Eyed Peas.
Not even the Duchess of York.
This is about a small suburb in Missouri, USA, that I had no idea existed - until an unarmed young black man was brutally and fatally shot by a white policeman.
His body was left on the ground for a few hours, as the authorities were deciding what to do with his body, and how to explain his unwarranted and cold-blooded execution.
The young, black victim was a huge boy, possibly not wealthy, not particularly good-looking, but he showed promise academically.
Michael Brown had graduated from high school and was headed for college. His killing aggravated the people of Ferguson who went berserk and started rioting.
Interestingly, this was not unlike the Tottenham riots in London, which were sparked by the police killing of a young bi-racial man, Mark Duggan, whom the police later accused of being an armed drug dealer.
Drug dealer or not, Duggan was found to be unarmed, when the police fired their bullets into him. However, amidst all the confusion, the police attempted to make it sound like the man had a gun and had fired at them.
From Wikipedia:
Why am I not surprised that the police always justify their shameful actions by vilifying the victims?
The police in Ferguson are attempting to do just that.
They began by releasing CCTV footage that shows a large, black man (allegedly the victim), stealing cigars from a convenience store.
Now I find it inconceivable that a young man with plans to go to college would want to steal. What more, cigars!! If he stole stationery, I could understand. Mind you, not condone, but understand.
If he stole clothes or money, there might be some logic to the story. Even cigarettes might be explained.
But cigars?
If Michael Brown was indeed the belligerent-looking man who shoved the store-keeper aside as he angrily walked out, it appears that there may have been a story behind it.
What transpires, however, is that the policeman, Darren Wilson, had no idea what Michael Brown was guilty of, if indeed, he had shot him for a criminal offence.
It is more likely, that Darren Wilson had shot Michael Brown because Wilson was on a power trip over which Brown - being educated - was unimpressed.
The interesting thing is that eye witnesses have come forward to say that Michael Brown had raised his hands in surrender and said, "Don't shoot."
An autopsy corroborates this claim, as all the bullets were fired into his front, meaning he was facing his killer when he was shot.
Despite surrendering, he still got gunned down by the inhumane policeman.
In America, being black is a very high risk factor that could easily lead to fatality.
But as Malaysians, we are in no position to moralise. Malaysian police are just as trigger-happy.
We also come from a nation that has a very high rate of death in custody.
The MACC killed Teoh Beng Hock and then accused him of committing suicide. I have yet to encounter anyone who believes that.
And as of 2010, there were 1805 deaths in custody.
The death of Teoh Beng Hock was an aberration and most likely a mistake by the MACC. Because in most instances, the deaths are those of Indian men.
These Indian men share the same demographics with men who are killed all over the world by "law enforcement", be it in the USA or UK: they are poor, non-professional and dark-skinned.
I am sick of the injustice.
I am sick of people behaving like human life does not matter.
I am sick of nations claiming to be first-world and developed, but displaying all the symptoms of a third-world country.
If America has any shred of decency, it should bring the filthy, disgraceful cop to justice.
Nor is it about the female singer of Black-Eyed Peas.
Not even the Duchess of York.
This is about a small suburb in Missouri, USA, that I had no idea existed - until an unarmed young black man was brutally and fatally shot by a white policeman.
His body was left on the ground for a few hours, as the authorities were deciding what to do with his body, and how to explain his unwarranted and cold-blooded execution.
The young, black victim was a huge boy, possibly not wealthy, not particularly good-looking, but he showed promise academically. Michael Brown had graduated from high school and was headed for college. His killing aggravated the people of Ferguson who went berserk and started rioting.
Interestingly, this was not unlike the Tottenham riots in London, which were sparked by the police killing of a young bi-racial man, Mark Duggan, whom the police later accused of being an armed drug dealer.
Drug dealer or not, Duggan was found to be unarmed, when the police fired their bullets into him. However, amidst all the confusion, the police attempted to make it sound like the man had a gun and had fired at them.
From Wikipedia:
After the shooting, the media widely reported that a bullet was found embedded in a police radio, implying that Duggan fired on the police. Friends and relatives of Duggan said that he was unarmed. The police later revealed that initial ballistics tests on the bullet recovered from the police radio indicate that it was a "very distinct" police issue hollow-point bullet.
The IPCC later stated that a loaded Bruni BBM blank-firing pistol, converted to fire live ammunition, was recovered from the scene. It was wrapped in a sock and there was no evidence that it had been fired.
On 13 August, the Independent Police Complaints Commission admitted that Duggan did not open fire, stating, "It seems possible that we may have verbally led journalists to [wrongly] believe that shots were exchanged". The bullet that had lodged in an officer's radio is believed to have been an overpenetration, having passed through Duggan's body.
Why am I not surprised that the police always justify their shameful actions by vilifying the victims?
The police in Ferguson are attempting to do just that.
They began by releasing CCTV footage that shows a large, black man (allegedly the victim), stealing cigars from a convenience store.
Now I find it inconceivable that a young man with plans to go to college would want to steal. What more, cigars!! If he stole stationery, I could understand. Mind you, not condone, but understand.
If he stole clothes or money, there might be some logic to the story. Even cigarettes might be explained.
But cigars?
If Michael Brown was indeed the belligerent-looking man who shoved the store-keeper aside as he angrily walked out, it appears that there may have been a story behind it.
What transpires, however, is that the policeman, Darren Wilson, had no idea what Michael Brown was guilty of, if indeed, he had shot him for a criminal offence.
It is more likely, that Darren Wilson had shot Michael Brown because Wilson was on a power trip over which Brown - being educated - was unimpressed.
The interesting thing is that eye witnesses have come forward to say that Michael Brown had raised his hands in surrender and said, "Don't shoot."
An autopsy corroborates this claim, as all the bullets were fired into his front, meaning he was facing his killer when he was shot.
Despite surrendering, he still got gunned down by the inhumane policeman.
In America, being black is a very high risk factor that could easily lead to fatality.
But as Malaysians, we are in no position to moralise. Malaysian police are just as trigger-happy.
We also come from a nation that has a very high rate of death in custody.
The MACC killed Teoh Beng Hock and then accused him of committing suicide. I have yet to encounter anyone who believes that.
And as of 2010, there were 1805 deaths in custody.
The death of Teoh Beng Hock was an aberration and most likely a mistake by the MACC. Because in most instances, the deaths are those of Indian men.
These Indian men share the same demographics with men who are killed all over the world by "law enforcement", be it in the USA or UK: they are poor, non-professional and dark-skinned.
I am sick of the injustice.
I am sick of people behaving like human life does not matter.
I am sick of nations claiming to be first-world and developed, but displaying all the symptoms of a third-world country.
If America has any shred of decency, it should bring the filthy, disgraceful cop to justice.
Sunday, 4 November 2012
End State-Sponsored Violence!
Malaysia paints an image of being a wealthy, developed and advanced nation to the rest of the world.But behind that facade lies a sick, convoluted sense of authority. One that has no sense of right and wrong. A self-imposed authority to treat its citizens brutally, to the extent of killing them.
The good people of this nation have finally decided that this must stop.
Thirty NGOs have now formed a coalition called the Gerakan Hentikan Keganasan Kerajaan or also known as the End State Violence coalition and they are going to organise a huge rally in December to make their point.
The launch of this rally will be held as follows:
Time: 8pm
Date: Nov 6, 2012 (Tuesday)
Place: Auditorium Bar Council KL
Go HERE for more details.
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Negligence
If you've forgotten who Kugan Ananthan was, this should refresh your memory.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — The mother of A. Kugan, the detainee who died in police custody, will take the stand at the High Court here on Friday in her RM100 million suit against Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and four others for alleged negligence and breach of statutory duty.
Justice Datuk V. T. Singham was informed today that other than N. Indra, 44, lawyer N. Surendran would also be called as a key witness during the trial.
Plaintiff's counsel, L. Bani Prakash also informed the court that the plaintiff faced difficulty in serving a subpoena on forensic pathologist Dr Prashad Samberkar of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) who carried out the second autopsy on Kugan's body.
He said Dr Prashad's contract had expired and he had returned to his country of origin, India, in early October.
However, the subpoena had been served on UMMC's head of forensic department, Assoc Prof Dr Nazarina Abdul Rahman, he added.
Justice Singham told Bani Prakash that he should have been more proactive in recording Dr Prashad's statement while he was in the country or sought the court's assistance on the matter, since the pathologist's testimony was crucial to the plaintiff's case.
Will this be justice served?
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — The mother of A. Kugan, the detainee who died in police custody, will take the stand at the High Court here on Friday in her RM100 million suit against Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and four others for alleged negligence and breach of statutory duty.
Justice Datuk V. T. Singham was informed today that other than N. Indra, 44, lawyer N. Surendran would also be called as a key witness during the trial.
Plaintiff's counsel, L. Bani Prakash also informed the court that the plaintiff faced difficulty in serving a subpoena on forensic pathologist Dr Prashad Samberkar of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) who carried out the second autopsy on Kugan's body.
He said Dr Prashad's contract had expired and he had returned to his country of origin, India, in early October.
However, the subpoena had been served on UMMC's head of forensic department, Assoc Prof Dr Nazarina Abdul Rahman, he added.
Justice Singham told Bani Prakash that he should have been more proactive in recording Dr Prashad's statement while he was in the country or sought the court's assistance on the matter, since the pathologist's testimony was crucial to the plaintiff's case.
Will this be justice served?
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Why The Ruckus During BERSIH 3.0
They call it a conspiracy -- the fact that for no apparent reason, the Malaysian police chose to attack a dispersing crowd.
I don't. It's too blatant and obvious what the UMNO government's intentions are.
You see for yourself.
I don't. It's too blatant and obvious what the UMNO government's intentions are.
You see for yourself.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Orwellian
It was a good friend from Australia who pointed out this article in the Malaysian Insider: Facebook, Twitter foster national security threats, say police
You really should read the whole article, but I shall reproduce an excerpt here to give you a flavour of what is being preached to the masses:
This is positively Orwellian. You would think it is something new and original but George Orwell described it in his book 1984 very succinctly.
To summarise, it is the policy of control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past.
The question is, why do people not grow alarmed at how blatantly those in power are trying to control us?
Here's why. Read this bit from the UK's Daily Mail about the Malaysian student in the Tottenham Riots.
You and I know that this is a load of hogwash. Pure rubbish. Unadulterated garbage. Utter crap. Pristine bullsh!t.
In Malaysia, we aren't always free to walk outside. We can get beaten quite severely by the police.
Ask peaceful candlelight vigil participants that have been rushed by the police and arrested.
Evidently, the police CAN catch and grab you even if you DON'T do anything wrong. The streets are NOT safe, thanks to the police.
And when an event like ABU (Anything But UMNO) takes place and gangsters try to wreak havoc and intimidate innocent civillians, the police are nowhere to be found. Ask anyone who has been for the ABU event in Klang.
But not everyone knows, because not everyone WANTS to know the sordid truth about the Malaysian government.
Ignorance isn't always bliss.
Certainly not when it becomes so easy to spot the government as a fascist regime.
You really should read the whole article, but I shall reproduce an excerpt here to give you a flavour of what is being preached to the masses:
Internal security and public order director Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said the Internet posed a challenge to the police as it allowed people “to know what was going on in and outside the country”.
This would encourage those who have been “influenced by liberal thinking” to replicate locally what was happening in other countries, Utusan Malaysia quoted him as saying today.
This is positively Orwellian. You would think it is something new and original but George Orwell described it in his book 1984 very succinctly.
To summarise, it is the policy of control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past.
The question is, why do people not grow alarmed at how blatantly those in power are trying to control us?
Here's why. Read this bit from the UK's Daily Mail about the Malaysian student in the Tottenham Riots.
And he was also critical of the police. ‘The police in Malaysia would have taken action sooner,’ he said.
‘Your police let it grow and grow until it was out of control. I don’t understand why people were allowed to run riot and rob in that way.
'Here in Malaysia the police can catch you and grab you if you do something wrong. But in Britain it seems that you cannot.’
Malaysia’s government is known for being authoritarian, but Mr Rossli said: ‘After this happened, people asked Ashraf why he went outside when there were riots and he replied, “Because in Malaysia we are always free to walk outside”.
'We have a tough government in Malaysia, but when something like this happens, they take action. They don’t let it get out of control. The streets are safe.’
You and I know that this is a load of hogwash. Pure rubbish. Unadulterated garbage. Utter crap. Pristine bullsh!t.
In Malaysia, we aren't always free to walk outside. We can get beaten quite severely by the police.
Ask peaceful candlelight vigil participants that have been rushed by the police and arrested.
Evidently, the police CAN catch and grab you even if you DON'T do anything wrong. The streets are NOT safe, thanks to the police.
And when an event like ABU (Anything But UMNO) takes place and gangsters try to wreak havoc and intimidate innocent civillians, the police are nowhere to be found. Ask anyone who has been for the ABU event in Klang.
But not everyone knows, because not everyone WANTS to know the sordid truth about the Malaysian government.
Ignorance isn't always bliss.
Certainly not when it becomes so easy to spot the government as a fascist regime.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
UPSI Students Beaten Up By Police
I blogged some time back about Adam Adli, a student activist from UPSI who had lowered a flag bearing the likeness of Najib Razak at the UMNO headquarters.
That did not go down too well with the powers that be, especially after emotional blackmail and calls for apology yielded no results.
There was an interesting excerpt from The Malaysian Insider, just a few days ago:
Adam Adli is quite right -- he has fully exercised his lawful rights to protest.
It's just that the Malaysian government does not very much like any form of dissent from its people.
In fact, Adam Adli was warned, in no subtle terms, that the authorities would be likely to take action.
And take action they did, in the wee hours of the morning when the undergraduates had held a sit-down demonstration in the UPSI campus to protest the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA).
A lot of them were beaten up.
It was a completely peaceful protest. There was absolutely no reason for violence.
Certainly no reason for violence that led to Muhammad Safwan Anang, the president of undergraduate movement Gerakan Menuntut Kebebasan Akademic (Bebas), being sent to a hospital in Slim River after he lost consciousness.
He was beaten up so badly that he even lost some teeth.
The police are so brazen to beat up this young man for a peaceful protest, without caring about what the rest of the nation thought about this incident.
Were they relying on the mainstream media to keep mum? Or for the politicians to whitewash their actions so it seems reasonable to beat up a young student for his political views?
UPDATE: Apparently, they have asked Muhammad Safwan Anang to sign a document saying that he had sustained his injuries during a fall. There were witnesses who saw the beating -- did they think they could cover it up??!!
That did not go down too well with the powers that be, especially after emotional blackmail and calls for apology yielded no results.
There was an interesting excerpt from The Malaysian Insider, just a few days ago:
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said the authorities are keeping a close watch on Adam and advised him to exercise caution when going about his activities.
This prompted the feisty student to respond confidently that he does not feel threatened by such statements.
“I’m not going to give up. How can they restrict me? I don’t see why must they do so,” Adam Adli said.
“I believe, and I know, I’m not doing anything wrong … I’m just voicing out my rights to protest over government policies and actions,” he added.
Adam Adli is quite right -- he has fully exercised his lawful rights to protest.
It's just that the Malaysian government does not very much like any form of dissent from its people.
In fact, Adam Adli was warned, in no subtle terms, that the authorities would be likely to take action.
And take action they did, in the wee hours of the morning when the undergraduates had held a sit-down demonstration in the UPSI campus to protest the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA).
A lot of them were beaten up.
It was a completely peaceful protest. There was absolutely no reason for violence.
He was beaten up so badly that he even lost some teeth.
The police are so brazen to beat up this young man for a peaceful protest, without caring about what the rest of the nation thought about this incident.
Were they relying on the mainstream media to keep mum? Or for the politicians to whitewash their actions so it seems reasonable to beat up a young student for his political views?
UPDATE: Apparently, they have asked Muhammad Safwan Anang to sign a document saying that he had sustained his injuries during a fall. There were witnesses who saw the beating -- did they think they could cover it up??!!
Friday, 28 October 2011
Being A Citizen Journalist
I think it is safe to assume that the US government allows street protests, but within a limited time frame.
After that, they get just as brutal and violent as the Malaysian police.
Any instance or place in which the authorities get violent on peaceful dissenters is wrong. And these instances should be documented for all and sundry to see.
Check out: RAW VIDEO - Cop Runs Over Wall Street Protester's Leg
We can't always rely on the mainstream media, for most of the time, they are owned by corporations that have a vested interest in keeping certain news from public knowledge -- especially if it concerns them.
That's why we need Citizen Journalists.
Gizmodo has given a comprehensive list of things to do and not to do when playing the role of Citizen Journalist.
After that, they get just as brutal and violent as the Malaysian police.
Any instance or place in which the authorities get violent on peaceful dissenters is wrong. And these instances should be documented for all and sundry to see.
Check out: RAW VIDEO - Cop Runs Over Wall Street Protester's Leg
We can't always rely on the mainstream media, for most of the time, they are owned by corporations that have a vested interest in keeping certain news from public knowledge -- especially if it concerns them.
That's why we need Citizen Journalists.
Gizmodo has given a comprehensive list of things to do and not to do when playing the role of Citizen Journalist.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Foreign Woman Hurt In Police Raid
A reader alerted me to the news of this foreign national who was bullied by the authorities: Woman: I was hurt in raid
As usual, this goes to show that the police have free reign to do as they please. They evidently violated procedure when:
1. The police were not in uniform
2. The police did not state the reason of the arrest to the suspect as is stipulated in the procedure
3. The police acted violently
4. The police did not give medical attention to the injuries sustained
In my opinion, everything falls neatly and squarely into the lap of this Chinese national. She was wrongly treated -- pure and simple.
However, I see something wrong in this.
Why did the husband pay RM2,000 to have his wife released? Was it legal? Or was it under-the-counter as usual?
Then I see a purpose for these illegal raids. They are to help these policemen make money from bribes.
As usual, this goes to show that the police have free reign to do as they please. They evidently violated procedure when:
1. The police were not in uniform
2. The police did not state the reason of the arrest to the suspect as is stipulated in the procedure
3. The police acted violently
4. The police did not give medical attention to the injuries sustained
In my opinion, everything falls neatly and squarely into the lap of this Chinese national. She was wrongly treated -- pure and simple.
However, I see something wrong in this.
Why did the husband pay RM2,000 to have his wife released? Was it legal? Or was it under-the-counter as usual?
Then I see a purpose for these illegal raids. They are to help these policemen make money from bribes.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Italians And Malaysians Are Very Different
You know what? Maybe we should sick some Italian protesters onto the Malaysian police. That'll teach them a lesson or two about violence and brutality.
Even the Australians would never put up with what we Malaysians mildly accept. If a policeman dare abuse or injure any peaceful protester, he'd better have a will drawn up and signed.
Trust me, he would be torn into pieces over a stunt like that in Australia, and most likely in Italy as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hundreds of hooded, masked protesters rampaged through Rome in some of the worst violence in the Italian capital for years Saturday, torching cars and breaking windows during a larger peaceful protest against elites blamed for economic downturn.
Police repeatedly fired tear gas and water cannon in attempts to disperse them but the clashes with a minority of violent demonstrators stretched into the evening, hours after tens of thousands of people in Rome joined a global "day of rage" against bankers and politicians.
Smoke rose over many parts of the neighborhood between the Colosseum and St John's Basilica, forcing many residents and peaceful demonstrators to run into buildings and churches for shelter as militant protesters ran wild.
Even the Australians would never put up with what we Malaysians mildly accept. If a policeman dare abuse or injure any peaceful protester, he'd better have a will drawn up and signed.
Trust me, he would be torn into pieces over a stunt like that in Australia, and most likely in Italy as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hundreds of hooded, masked protesters rampaged through Rome in some of the worst violence in the Italian capital for years Saturday, torching cars and breaking windows during a larger peaceful protest against elites blamed for economic downturn.
Police repeatedly fired tear gas and water cannon in attempts to disperse them but the clashes with a minority of violent demonstrators stretched into the evening, hours after tens of thousands of people in Rome joined a global "day of rage" against bankers and politicians.
 |
| A demonstrator celebrates as a Carabinieri police vehicle burns during a demonstration of the "Indignant" group in Rome on Saturday. |
Smoke rose over many parts of the neighborhood between the Colosseum and St John's Basilica, forcing many residents and peaceful demonstrators to run into buildings and churches for shelter as militant protesters ran wild.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
"Deliberate Campaign To Undermine The Police"
According to our favourite news agency, Bernama:
Lots of you were out there on the streets that day.
Tell me, did you not see police brutality on that day?
And those of you who watched those videos, did you not see it with your own eyes??
Certain quarters have launched a deliberate campaign to undermine the police by claiming that they had resorted to violence to quell the July 9 illegal rally, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police.
Lots of you were out there on the streets that day.
Tell me, did you not see police brutality on that day?
And those of you who watched those videos, did you not see it with your own eyes??
Monday, 11 July 2011
Friday, 6 May 2011
The Internet did not kill Kugan or Aminulrasyid
The cops are whining about their image being tarnished - by the internet, of all things.
Do they really think that people are so stupid to overlook their grave incompetence and bias?
- putting up roadblocks during almost every demonstration. The police are responsible for the bad traffic, not the protestors.
- allowing UMNO-friendly demonstrations but arresting anti-government protestors.
- killing detainees under their custody.
- shooting unarmed boys and pregnant women.
- investigating Opposition politicians for what they do in their private lives.
- being unable to solve crimes involving kidnapped and murdered children.
The list is endless.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/163379
Do they really think that people are so stupid to overlook their grave incompetence and bias?
- putting up roadblocks during almost every demonstration. The police are responsible for the bad traffic, not the protestors.
- allowing UMNO-friendly demonstrations but arresting anti-government protestors.
- killing detainees under their custody.
- shooting unarmed boys and pregnant women.
- investigating Opposition politicians for what they do in their private lives.
- being unable to solve crimes involving kidnapped and murdered children.
The list is endless.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/163379
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Death By Natural Causes In Malaysia
In Malaysia, death by a bullet discharged from the firearm of a trigger-happy policeman is now fast becoming 'death by natural causes'.
On 26 Apr 2010, Aminulrasyid Amzah was shot after he tried to flee a roadblock. He did not stand a chance. The 15 year old was killed immediately.
Granted, the kid had no drivers licence and was a menace on the road. But his car was riddled with 30 bullets. No pun intended when I use the term 'overkill'.
On 17 Oct 2010, five foreigners were shot dead after they were suspected to be robbers. Say if two were killed and three injured, there may be some semblance of 'law enforcement'. This reeks of cold-blooded murder.
On 16 Nov 2010, Ho Chei Hang was shot 4 times by plainclothes police officers in Kepong. Yet he was charged for 'attempting to murder' the police officer who had shot at him from behind!
On 13 Nov 2010, Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shapiei, was shot dead at about 4am on a street in Glenmarie in Shah Alam, Selangor. He was about a week away from turning 16.
Makes you wonder - at this rate, how many people exactly have been killed in this manner? Take a look at the government statistics:
For a country with a population of 28 million, those are not very positive numbers. Cast aside the fact that I don't trust the government and believe the numbers may be higher.
What is frightening is the perpetrators are those who are supposed to be protecting us.
These days, they either shoot citizens point blank or stand by as others inflict violence on their fellow citizens - check out this video I saw that shows how people take the law into their own hands.
If you don't even have a twinge of conscience while reading this, may God have mercy on you for stepping back and doing nothing as these atrocities continue to be committed in broad daylight.
On 26 Apr 2010, Aminulrasyid Amzah was shot after he tried to flee a roadblock. He did not stand a chance. The 15 year old was killed immediately.
Granted, the kid had no drivers licence and was a menace on the road. But his car was riddled with 30 bullets. No pun intended when I use the term 'overkill'.
On 17 Oct 2010, five foreigners were shot dead after they were suspected to be robbers. Say if two were killed and three injured, there may be some semblance of 'law enforcement'. This reeks of cold-blooded murder.
On 16 Nov 2010, Ho Chei Hang was shot 4 times by plainclothes police officers in Kepong. Yet he was charged for 'attempting to murder' the police officer who had shot at him from behind!
On 13 Nov 2010, Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shapiei, was shot dead at about 4am on a street in Glenmarie in Shah Alam, Selangor. He was about a week away from turning 16.
Makes you wonder - at this rate, how many people exactly have been killed in this manner? Take a look at the government statistics:
A total of 279 suspects have been shot dead by the police between 2000 and 2009, while 147 died in police lockup during the same period, revealed Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today.
For a country with a population of 28 million, those are not very positive numbers. Cast aside the fact that I don't trust the government and believe the numbers may be higher.
What is frightening is the perpetrators are those who are supposed to be protecting us.
These days, they either shoot citizens point blank or stand by as others inflict violence on their fellow citizens - check out this video I saw that shows how people take the law into their own hands.
 |
| The policeman on the right stands by and does nothing |
If you don't even have a twinge of conscience while reading this, may God have mercy on you for stepping back and doing nothing as these atrocities continue to be committed in broad daylight.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Monday, 2 August 2010
1PoliceState
Some of you may have attended the peaceful candlelight vigil last night.
Peaceful until the police stormed the crowd, that is.
What can I say? We live in a police state that is determined to stifle all forms of negative feedback to the government administration.
People First, Performance Now.
Peaceful until the police stormed the crowd, that is.
What can I say? We live in a police state that is determined to stifle all forms of negative feedback to the government administration.
People First, Performance Now.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
The Social Impediment
I watched as the young, barefoot Malaysian boys battled it out in their game of football.
With the exception of a few tufts of grass, some stray, misaligned tiles, and a manhole, it was largely a level playing field. All the boys were about of the same height and build even.
To some, it may look like a bleak situation - the boys lived in a run-down rumah panjang meant to be temporary housing. It was located just on the outskirts of the city that is host to the majestic Petronas Twin Towers.
Their ignorance is bliss.
For alas, when they grow older, they will discover (if they haven't already) that they possess a little but not insignificant impediment: they are of Indian descent.
It is no longer a level playing field.
In this country, there are countless deaths in custody, the majority of them being Indian men.
More recently, 5 Indian men were shot dead by the police - merely under suspicion of being involved in criminal activities.
Helen Ang, in her bold but exceptionally relevant article Why we haven’t thrown that slipper pierces my conscience for being part of the motley crew of Malaysians that does nothing to stop this violation of human rights.
It's not just the Indian men who suffer and die, but somehow the entire community is affected as well.
In the case of R Surendran, his sister Seetha, overcome by grief, ingested weedkiller and offered it to her 4 children as well. She has since died.
Again, Helen in Sad road to Seetha's suicide observes that:
In other words, the Indian community is finding itself unable to cope.
Seriously, what do we need to open our eyes and that of our fellow Malaysians?
With the exception of a few tufts of grass, some stray, misaligned tiles, and a manhole, it was largely a level playing field. All the boys were about of the same height and build even.
To some, it may look like a bleak situation - the boys lived in a run-down rumah panjang meant to be temporary housing. It was located just on the outskirts of the city that is host to the majestic Petronas Twin Towers.
Their ignorance is bliss.
For alas, when they grow older, they will discover (if they haven't already) that they possess a little but not insignificant impediment: they are of Indian descent.
It is no longer a level playing field.
In this country, there are countless deaths in custody, the majority of them being Indian men.
More recently, 5 Indian men were shot dead by the police - merely under suspicion of being involved in criminal activities.
Helen Ang, in her bold but exceptionally relevant article Why we haven’t thrown that slipper pierces my conscience for being part of the motley crew of Malaysians that does nothing to stop this violation of human rights.
In Malaysia, some dark-skinned men are deliberately made to be less equal than others. Malaysian authorities who shoot to kill do not believe that ‘suspected criminals’ possess any unalienable right to life, never mind the too hopeful “pursuit of happiness”.
Successive BN governments have not addressed the root problem of the Indian community’s chronic socio-economic ills – why the gangsterism and involvement in criminal activities. It’s not just Indians who are neglected with no opportunity for social mobility; the itinerant pirated DVD seller – almost always Chinese – is also on the wrong side of the law.
It's not just the Indian men who suffer and die, but somehow the entire community is affected as well.
In the case of R Surendran, his sister Seetha, overcome by grief, ingested weedkiller and offered it to her 4 children as well. She has since died.
Again, Helen in Sad road to Seetha's suicide observes that:
For most of us, we lose our loved ones to old age or they succumb to natural causes. For the Tamil underclass like Seetha, death can visit a male sibling in a hail of bullets or occurring in the police lock-up. This comes about due to the chronic socio-economic deprivation of the community.
So, no, those comfortable armchair critics of Seetha can't even begin to comprehend her anguish and the perennial dark cloud hanging when one is mired in poverty. Her father is a security guard; her husband a lorry driver. Both are low status and low pay jobs.
In other words, the Indian community is finding itself unable to cope.
Seriously, what do we need to open our eyes and that of our fellow Malaysians?
Monday, 5 October 2009
When Being Questioned By Authorities...
... there are some important things to bear in mind.
From Aliran:
OCT 3 — With the periodic reports in the press of people dying while in police custody or at MACC premises, it would be wise for all Malaysians to do the following should they be called in to give statements as a witness or as a suspect for any crime.
The recommended actions are as follows:
1. Determine at which station you are required to give your statement (as witness or suspect);
2. Immediately proceed to any other police station. Do not go alone — go with a friend, preferably a lawyer. You just can’t be too careful;
3. At this other police station, make a police report stating that:
i. You are currently having no problems (social, personal, business, financial, etc) and do not intend whatsoever to commit suicide (e.g. perhaps by jumping down 14 storeys just to see if you can fly or because of too much questioning throughout the night) while in the police/MACC premises;
ii. You are of good health and do not suffer from any chronic disease or injury that could cause a (or actually your) sudden death;
iii. You have no bruises nor swollen organs before going in to give your statement. In short, you have a clean bill of health;
iv. That should you be found dead in the lock up or while in custody or anywhere in the premises of the police/MACC — to please suspect foul play;
v. That you want to leave the premises of the police/MACC once it is past 6pm and if you do not leave, that means you are held against your will in the said police/MACC premises where they are “taking” or “making” your statement;
4. Upon making the said report, to give a copy to your lawyer friend while you keep another copy in your top shirt pocket;
5. You and your friend must now part company and go separate ways;
6. Only then should you proceed to the police station or MACC office to be “interviewed” by the police/MACC interrogators;
7. Upon meeting up with the police or MACC interrogators, immediately hand them the police report from your top shirt pocket and tell them that another copy is with your lawyer. (Make sure this lawyer friend is no longer with you at this point; otherwise no more copy-lah, as he too will be “called in” to give his statement.)
Now all the above is so important as it is all done in the hope that they (police and MACC interrogators) will be “nice” to you and thus you are able to leave the premises in due course on your own steam (walking out by yourself) and not be carried out in a body bag or taken on a stretcher to the hospital ICU.
From Aliran:
OCT 3 — With the periodic reports in the press of people dying while in police custody or at MACC premises, it would be wise for all Malaysians to do the following should they be called in to give statements as a witness or as a suspect for any crime.
The recommended actions are as follows:
1. Determine at which station you are required to give your statement (as witness or suspect);
2. Immediately proceed to any other police station. Do not go alone — go with a friend, preferably a lawyer. You just can’t be too careful;
3. At this other police station, make a police report stating that:
i. You are currently having no problems (social, personal, business, financial, etc) and do not intend whatsoever to commit suicide (e.g. perhaps by jumping down 14 storeys just to see if you can fly or because of too much questioning throughout the night) while in the police/MACC premises;
ii. You are of good health and do not suffer from any chronic disease or injury that could cause a (or actually your) sudden death;
iii. You have no bruises nor swollen organs before going in to give your statement. In short, you have a clean bill of health;
iv. That should you be found dead in the lock up or while in custody or anywhere in the premises of the police/MACC — to please suspect foul play;
v. That you want to leave the premises of the police/MACC once it is past 6pm and if you do not leave, that means you are held against your will in the said police/MACC premises where they are “taking” or “making” your statement;
4. Upon making the said report, to give a copy to your lawyer friend while you keep another copy in your top shirt pocket;
5. You and your friend must now part company and go separate ways;
6. Only then should you proceed to the police station or MACC office to be “interviewed” by the police/MACC interrogators;
7. Upon meeting up with the police or MACC interrogators, immediately hand them the police report from your top shirt pocket and tell them that another copy is with your lawyer. (Make sure this lawyer friend is no longer with you at this point; otherwise no more copy-lah, as he too will be “called in” to give his statement.)
Now all the above is so important as it is all done in the hope that they (police and MACC interrogators) will be “nice” to you and thus you are able to leave the premises in due course on your own steam (walking out by yourself) and not be carried out in a body bag or taken on a stretcher to the hospital ICU.
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