Saturday 9 July 2011

9th July 2011 SATURDAY - Malaysia's D-Day for Democracy

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6.45pm: IPK KL - Ambiga Sreenevasan has been released from detention. KL CID chief Ku Chin Wa said that the police would decide whether to take action against her after investigations are concluded.

6.30pm: Police say 1,401 protesters were arrested during the day-long operation, including 13 children.

4.40pm: Pudu - Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha'ani B Abdullah condemns the authorities for their harsh handling of the protesters.The police force has not only disrespect the people's rights of assembly but also compromise the safety and health of the public by firing tear gas into the Tung Shin hospital compound.When asked how can the people respond to such violations, he said Malaysians should choose representatives who can protect their rights.

4.50pm: Fadiah Nadwa Fikri of Lawyers for Liberty says that the police have invoked section 28A(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code - denial of access to lawyers - at Pulapol (Police Training Centre), where she says 1,000 people are being detained.
According to her, this is a violation of Article 5 of constitution.

4.21pm: Bersih committee to call press conference at 4.45pm at Midah Hotel.

4.10pm: Light Rail Train (LRT) stations still closed, according to RapidKL - Pasar Seni, KL Sentral, Masjid Jamek and Dang Wangi.

4.01pm: PDRM Facebook - Among the top leaders arrested are:
Mahfuz Omar - KL Central
Salahuddin Ayub - KL Central
Mohamad Sabu - Jalan Mahameru
Fauziah Salleh - KL Central
Tian Chua - KL Central
S Ambiga - KL Central
Hadi Awang - KL Central
Azeez Rahim - Jalan Bukit Bintang

4pm: Istana Negara - The Bersih 2.0 delegation of about 20 people led by A Samad Said were stopped from marching to the palace gates by the police about 200m away.Negotiations with the police failed and the group agreed to disperse. However, Samad said he needed to rest and the group left him alone with the police before leaving the area.

3.50pm: Istana Negara - A small group of Bersih 2.0 steering committee members are marching towards the palace from Midah Hotel. They are awaiting clearance from the palace to submit Bersih 2.0's petition.

KL Hilton - In an impromptu press conference, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, N Surendran and PAS deputy secretary general Syed Azman condemn the police's brutality that they allege has caused injury to several Pakatan leaders.They say besides PKR de-facto chief Anwar Ibrahim, who has been sent to Pantai Hospital, PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Bersih 2.0 leaders Maria Chin Abdullah and A Samad Said have also sustained injuries.

3.50am: Pasar Seni - Bersih leader Wong Chin Huat, after reading out the eight demands of Bersih 2.0, call on the crowd to disperse.The crowd begins to disperse peacefully but many of them still chanting 'Reformasi' and 'Bersih' under the Pasar Seni LRT station.The police responded by firing another round of tear gas into the crowd.

The crowd of about 600 people are now urging the police to show restraint, yelling out “Sabar! Sabar!” (Calm down! Calm down!) at the officers, but more are surging towards the historic stadium despite coming up against police barricades. Some Bersih leaders are trying to get the demonstrators to hold a sitdown, but are unable to make themselves heard above the roar, while earlier cries of “Reformasi!” appear to be weakening.But the cheer picks up each time a new group of demonstrators successfully makes it past the police barricade and into the stadium compound.

3.49pm: Pudu - The group of Bersih 2.0 supporters caught in a pincer between two police cordons in Tung Shin Hospital have now dispersed after police rushed in and begin to arrest dozens.Most have fled using the back roads and alleys in small groups to make their escape while a hardcore few holed up in the upper parking lot of the hospital. The police subsequently fired tear gas canister at them and the last remaining holdouts were either arrested or left voluntarily.At least 50 were arrested as police broke up the Tung Shing hospital crowd.

3.40pm: Titiwangsa Lake Gardens - About 20 Perkasa members are seen at a restaurant in Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, following the goings-on of the Bersih 2.0 rally through the television. However the group's president Ibrahim Ali and his deputy was nowhere to be seen.

3.38pm: Pudu - The 2,000-strong crowd at Pudu have now been denied safe passage to Jalan Sultan, and riot police have fired both water cannons and tear gas on the protesters assembled in front of the Tung Shin hospital. The crowd is now sandwiched between two FRU blockades.The police started spraying the crowd after negotiations broke down between police and Pakatan MPs R Sivarasa and Ngeh Khoo Ham, following confusion over what the crowd is required to do.It was learnt that the crowd were told to only use one side of the road and march peacefully, while it was understood that the police had wanted them to disperse into smaller groups before they would be allowed to march.It is believed that Sivarasa has been detained, though it is unknown where he is being taken to.

3.37pm: Pasar Seni - The triumphant group from Stadium Merdeka marched down Jalan Sultan towards Central Market, but they were attacked by tear gas by police near the Pasar Seni LRT Station.This has forced then to retreat down Jalan Sultan.

3.25pmThe 300 Umno Youth supporters at Jalan Bukit Bintang in front of Federal Hotel begin to disperse after negotiation with the police.Claiming moral victory despite only being able to proceed 200m along Jalan Bukit Bintang - still far from their Stadium Merdeka destination - Umno Youth exco Megat Omardin said that their message have been conveyed.Umno Youth Petaling Jaya Utara chief Arman Azha told Malaysiakini that exco Lokman Noor Adam as well as 20 of their members have been arrested.

3.20pm: Pudu - Police have agreed to give safe passage to the thousands of protesters assembled at Pudu up till Jalan Sultan on condition that they only use half of the road and march peacefully. The accord was met after Pakatan parliamentarians R Sivarasa and Ngeh Khoo Ham negotiated with the police, who also decided to allow the crowd to chant as they march. The crowd has begun to march from Pudu towards Jalan Sultan, thanking the police for allowing them safe passage. The 2,000-strong crowd also began singing Negaraku as they march.

310pm: PDRM Facebook - The total number of people arrested as of 2.30pm has reached 672.

3.00 pm: The crowd disperses into Tung Shing Hospital and a nearby Chinese school. Police are firing tear gas into the hospital in attempts to disperse the protestors.
There is brief respite as Subang MP R Sivarasa tries to negotiate with the police to allow protestors to move back to Masjid Negara.

2.56pm: Puduraya - At Jln Hang Jebat near Stadium Merdeka, 3,000 Bersih supporters are gathered here attempting to move over to Stadium Merdeka nearby.They meet a blockade with barbed wire. The crowd, growing by the minute, groups i front of the cops and chant at them.Led by PAS election director Hatta Ramli and PKR Johor chief Chua Jui Meng, the crowd calls for the police to remove the barricades to no avail.
The two leaders give a short speech each telling the crowd they have accomplished their mission in arriving at the stadium, despite being unable to enter.They thank the police and tell the crowd to return to Central Market.

2.55pm: There's a standstill between the Umno Youth's Patriot rally and the FRU with neither side budging.About three arrests were made when Umno Youth tried to break through the FRU line, breaking out into a scuffle before a tear gas canister was fired. Khairy Jamaluddin is subsequently arrested. Water cannons and tear gas have also been fired at the remaining Umno Youth supporters, pushing them back 50m from where they originally were.The group has thinned out to about 200 people.

2.50pm: KL Sentral - PKR vice-president N Surendran told Malaysiakini Anwar is bleeding from the head and injured one of his knees.

2.45pm: KL Sentral - Anwar Ibrahim tweets that he has suffered a minor injury and that his two daugthers - Nurul Izzah and Nurul Hana - has been arrested during the melee.Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan confirms that she has been arrested.

Bukit Bintang - The Umno Youth group have stopped in front of Royale Bintang Hotel where they are walking towards another Bersih group at the Jalan Pudu-Bukit Bintang intersection.

Puduraya - The crowd here is breaking up into smaller groups. They are believe to be taking separate routes towards Stadium Merdeka.

2.43pm: Pandemonium breaks out at KL Sentral as police fire tear gas in a closed environment as Bersih 2.0 and opposition leaders attempted to exit the station via Brickfields.The tear gas forced protesters back into the station, which has been locked down. Journalists outside KL Sentral were barred from entering the station, making it difficult to verify the status of the situation. It was however confirmed that a group of Pakatan leaders and individuals were arrested in the chaos, including Batu MP Tian Chua, Pantai Dalam MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Kuala Selangor MP Dzukefly Ahmad, artist Wong Hoy Cheong, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's son and three other supporters.

2.41pm: PDRM Facebook: As of 2pm, 644 arrested - 597 males and 47 females.

The Bersih group moves towards Maybank, and walk just 500 metres in front of the Patriot group. It is evident that despite their differences, there is some coordination with the Bersih group when scores of Umno Youth exco seen stopping their members from clashing with the Bersih group. However, some are insistent at pressing forward, baying for blood.

2.30pm: Brickfields - The Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 2.0 crowd has managed to emerge from KL Sentral and have entered Jalan Tun Sambanthan where they are met by almost 1,000 supporters.Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Kit Siang and other personalities are spotted among the crowd.
While proceeding towards the city centre, they were pelted with tear gas cannisters and chaos ensued. Many of the top leaders including Ambiga, fellow Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah and five MPs have been arrested.

2.20pm: Puduraya - The 10,000-strong crowd led by PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli and PKR leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin has regrouped and move towards town centre.However, the police fire yet another round of tear gas to disperse the crowd.

2.18pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang - As the drizzle starts, the crowds raise their hands and cheer again, and retreat towards Bukit Bintang.Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy's political secretary Satees Muniandy reports, “I'm at Jln Pudu. Rain is God's blessing. The crowd is building up especially under the bridge. Thousands are not leaving despite water cannons, tear gas.”

2.10pm: Puduraya - The police are increasingly harsh towards protestors. Some are dragged on the road. One protestor was bleeding from the head.Some police officers were seen punching and pushing protestors who were trying to flee. In one incident, several protesters were forced to jump off a six-foot high ledge to evade capture.

1.59pm: Puduraya - Police fired tear gas on an estimated 10,000-strong crowd, which converges in Puduraya, in front of Menara Maybank. Part of the crowd came in from Masjid Jamek while others are from Petaling Street.Police had to resort to using tear gas after the water cannon failed to stop their advance. People in the crowd appear to be recovering from the tear gas and are coming back together to continue with their march.

1.59pm: Police fired tear gas on an estimated 10,000-strong crowd marching in front of Menara Maybank along Jalan Tun Perak. The crowd came in from Masjid Jamek and were en-route to Puduraya.Police had to resort to using tear gas after the water cannon failed to stop their advance. People in the crowd appear to be recovering from the tear gas and are coming back together to continue with their march.

1.57pm: Malaysia Hotel - Khairy Jamaluddin appears at the Umno Youth rally and gives out a short speech. He said that Bersih 2.0 cannot be supported because it is infiltrated by opposition parties.He then leads the crowd in a march towards Stadium Merdeka. They will likely bump into a section of the Bersih 2.0 crowd.

1.55pm: It begins raining in Kuala Lumpur.

1.52pm: Masjid Jamek - There are at least four police trucks stationed at Masjid Jamek LRT station.Crowd has been dispersed by the police tear gas for now, but it is expected they will be regrouped later.

1.43pm: Masjid Jamek - A group of about 10 general duty police officers with gas masks chased after the protesters who ran helter skelter into Masjid India area.

1.40pm: Menara Maybank - Water cannons unleashed on more than 1,000 protestors.

1.38pm: LRT Masjid Jamek - A police officer with loudhailer announced: “Perhimpunan hari in tak ada kebenaran jadi diminta semua bersurai serta merta atau kami suraikan dengan kekerasan.”The officer also gave three minutes for the crowd to disperse.
This was met with “takbir” and jeers from the crowd, numbering about more than 500 people.

1.35pm: Press statement by IPK KL.Thus far, 540 people have been arrested (479 male, 58 women, three juvenile) have been arrested for further investigation.
Among the arrested, 11 were wearing yellow Bersih T-shirt and one was wearing a red Patriot T-shirt. Meanwhile, three individuals believed to be leaders or organisers of the rally were also arrested. They are PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, and party veeps Salahuddin Ayub, Mahfuz Omar.

1.33pm: Jalan Tun Perak - PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli with a loudspeaker tells the crowd of at least 4,000 that party vice-president Mahfuz Omar and about 300 others have been arrested."The rakyat's struggle requires sacrifices... Those under 40 here have never seen real democracy in this country," he said.The crowd reply with "Allahuakbar".There are traffic marshals from Bersih also directing the crowd to make way for vehicles passing through.

1.30pm: Malaysia Hotel - About 500 Umno Youth members have gathered at Jalan Bukit Bintang. They are all wearing red T-shirts with the word 'Patriot'. These T-shirts are also being given out to the public, including tourist.The Umno Youth rally is aided with a pickup truck. Speakers would give speeches from the back of the truck and throw down T-shirts.Among those present are Umno Youth leaders Arman Azhar, Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Zaki Zahid but there is no sign of the movement's leader Khairy Jamaluddin. His officers insist he will show up later.The group is currently stationary and chanting "Hancur Bersih" and "Who are me? Patriot!". They narrowly missed a Bersih 2.0 procession by about 10 minutes.

1.22pm: Petaling Street - The group of a few thousand which is marching to Stadium Negara turn back to Jalan Tan Cheng Lock after encountering a roadblock.A large group of Sarawakians are chanting 'Hidup Sarawak', receiving applause from the rest.

1.21am: Top Bersih leaders Ambiga Sreenevasan, Haris Ibrahim, Wong Chin Huat and A Samad Said are in Hilton Hotel. They are with politicians William Leong, Kamaruddin Jaafar, Zaid Kamaruddin, Syed Azman Syed Nawawi and Tian Chua. They join Anwar Ibrahim who is in the hotel.It is confirmed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has been arrested and was brought to Pulapol (Police Training Centre). Earlier, PAS vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub were also arrested.

12.51pm: Hilton Hotel - PKR leaders Nurul Izzah Anwar, Syed Husin Ali, Lateefah Koya arrive in Anwar Ibrahim's hotel room. Local and foreign media are at the lobby.

12.55pm: Pudu Plaza - DAP leader Teresa Kok is defying her ban and leading protesters to start the march towards Merdeka Stadium.The crowd is shouting, "Bersih, bersih," "Hidup rakyat" , "Rakyat sudah bangun," and "Daulat Tuanku."The have at press time reached Shaw Parade, with no sign yet of any police interference.
The crowd soon swells to two thousand, with the DAP-led march cleverly sticking to tourist spots at Sungei Wang and Low Yat Plaza past Federal Hotel to foil police action.They are also sending motorcycle recces to keep them informed of police presence ahead.

12.50pm: About 3,000 to 4,000 people are marching from Petaling Street in downtown Kuala Lumpur to Stadium Negara.They are chanting "Bersih, Bersih, Pilihanraya" and "Hidup, Hidup, Rakyat".Six middle-aged protestors began a rendition of Negaraku, which immediately received a strong response from the crowd, which sing along.

12.20pm: Pudu Plaza - At Jalan Landak, Pudu, some 200 people have started to gather, preparing for the rally.Police are scattered about, searching the protestors' bags and belongings without any further action.A small quarrel breaks out between protestors and Pudu security personnel when they try to chase them away.Some foodstalls and restaurants are still operating, and a durian stall is seen offering protestors a taste of their wares.DAP leaders who have shown up include Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Ching Tong, Segambut MP Lim Lip Éng, Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, Lukut Adun Ean Yong Tin Sin, Pasir Pinjir Adun Thomas Soo, Bahau Adun Teo Kok Seong.

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9.35am: Masjid Jamek - Seven people have been detained. It is unsure why. Reporters are now allowed to get near the truck where they are held. "You cannot be here. Please speak to my officer if you want to enter this area," said a police personnel.

9.30am: Maju Junction - Four men are being whisked away by the police after police found a yellow shirts in one of their bags.

9.25am: Kampung Baru - Another 18 males have been brought to the police truck, joining the nine detained earlier. The truck is parked in front of the Kampung Baru mosque, has locked up by the mosque committee about ten minutes ago.

9.00am: Stadium Merdeka - The route to the stadium from Jalan Maharajalela is being blocked with a barbwire barricade. Journalists who wish to enter the area must registered with the police.

8.40am: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman - Bar Council's monitoring team hits the streets donning black suits and a "Observer" tags on their jackets. "We will monitor the rally and take photographs if necessary. There are about 100 observers from Bar Council. Some of them are also providing legal aid," said HR Dipendra, who leads a team of 15 observers.

8.45am: PAS headquarters. PAS' top leaders are believed to be holed up here.A group of unidentified men has set up a video camera opposite the PAS building.

As of 8.30am, LRT services are operating as usual, without any stations inaccessible.

8.10am: Tune Hotel - The Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman interchange is being manned by about 100 police personnel who are inspecting all vehicles entering the area. Tourist appear to be having trouble finding taxis.

7.50am: Masjid Jamek - Heavy police presence. Road in front of the mosque has been sealed off.

7.45am: Masjid Negara - A dozen FRU jeeps and a water cannon truck is stationed at the Jalan Keretapi roundabout oppositite the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court complex. No roadblocks are visible, but there are many police personnel in the area.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

YES, anyone who has been KOTOR all this while please be BERSIH now !

Anonymous said...

It is indeed fitting that the word BEERSIH had become a dirty word under the past three administrations.

Anonymous said...

Dr or better be called 'Dog' Cheah Soon Hai, it was Najib who gave the ultimatun to BERSIH to have the gathering in a stadium (or else!). Well after BERSIH's meeting with the King, the agreed to the stadium option and on that basis, they just chose Merdeka Stadium because of its symbolic nature. You are not better than those UMNO blokes who view everything from the prism of either race, religion, and in your case, bad motives. So the stadium has been chosen, and the Najib now passed the buck to the police who will not issue the permit. To get himself out of a fix, Najib decided to hightail overseas for a state visit instead of staying at home to sort things out. Dr Cheah, your days are numbered and so is GERAKAN. You people are nothing but leeches and a nuisance.
Let me repeat now, Gerakan is already irrelevant to the malaysian rakyat esp Penanites since 0308 after the defeat of their so called praying mantis look alike mentor "Dog" Koh. Get real, dumb dumb.

Anonymous said...

Nothing will change in all Third World countries until and unless all senior government servants and ploticians are requires by law to declare their assets to an Independent Parliamentary Committee.

Anonymous said...

CSL is a former HM.LTL is the present HM.Both of them are doctors.In war and peace time doctors risk their lives to save patients.Here we have a HM and an ex HM,both doctors by profession trying and lying their asses off to try to save attackers of their patients.

So what these two pariah assholes are saying is that if these same attackers were to invade their homes and attack their wives and daughters they both would lie their asses off for them too.After all pariahs,lapdogs and traitors have no loyalty.
Another point to note is i have never ever trust this guy LTL since day one. He has played out his former boss OngTK AND OPTED FOR A PORN STAR INSTEAD. I guess being honest and with guts like OngTK will never survive in Bolehland more so in MCA. You can be right, but can also be DEAD RIGHT!!