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Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops probe ‘flogging' of PM effigy during Turun Anwar rally
Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said the report on the incident was one of four received in relation to the rally at Dataran Merdeka. PETALING JAYA : Police are probing the reported flogging of an effigy resembling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim near Masjid Negara during the Turun Anwar rally last Saturday. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said the report on the incident was one of four received in relation to the rally at Dataran Merdeka, Bernama reported. He said the case had been referred to the classified crime investigation unit in Bukit Aman for investigation under Section 41 of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 504 of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, he said the other three reports were related to the use of drones. 'The three other reports related to drones have been forwarded to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia for further action,' he said, adding that any misconduct by rally participants would be investigated by the police. About 18,000 people took part in the rally, according to police estimates, although the organisers, PAS Youth, claimed that more than 200,000 participants were present. Protesters had called for Anwar to step down as prime minister over the rising cost of living, among others. At an anti-corruption rally in Sabah last month, organised by several Universiti Malaysia Sabah students, protesters burned a caricature of the prime minister. The Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest saw more than 100 people call for action over the Sabah water department scandal. Police later said they were investigating the burning of the caricature under the Sedition Act 1948 and Penal Code.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Uproar in Dewan after minister claims 20 tonnes of rubbish left post-rally
Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said the government has no issue with peaceful assemblies but that protesters must not litter. KUALA LUMPUR : A brief uproar ensued in the Dewan Rakyat today after housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming claimed that 20 tonnes of rubbish had to be cleared following the anti-Anwar Ibrahim rally last weekend. Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) demanded proof of this claim, saying it was impossible for protesters to have left behind that much rubbish as the majority of those who took part in the Turn Anwar gathering on Saturday had only brought bottled water. 'Show me proof that 20 tonnes of rubbish (were cleared). Only then I will say you're not lying,' he said. Nga said his claim was based on figures provided by the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation, a government agency. He said while the government had no issue with peaceful assemblies, protesters must not litter. 'I'm only reprimanding litterbugs. I'm not accusing (Pendang) of being one. 'I do not deny the fact that PAS's Amal unit helped clean the area,' he said, referring to the party's volunteer corps. 'Yet, 20 tonnes of rubbish were strewn around the capital, in areas such as Sogo and Dataran Merdeka.' Several opposition MPs including Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) and Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) then stood to object to Nga's claim. However, deputy speaker Alice Lau instructed Awang to not interrupt Nga and to allow him to finish answering the oral questions. Yesterday, Nga was reported as saying that sewage and waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd cleaners only managed to finish cleaning up the litter at 3.30am on Sunday.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Four reports filed over ‘Turun Anwar' rally, police to investigate effigy caning and drone use
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Police have received four reports in connection with the rally at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday, including one case involving an effigy resembling Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim being caned near the National Mosque. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said the remaining three reports were related to the use of drones. He said that the effigy case has been referred to the Classified Crime Investigation Unit in Bukit Aman for investigation under Section 41 of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 504 of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 'The three other reports related to drones have been forwarded to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) for further action,' he said at a press conference here today. Mohamed Usuf said that although the rally was held peacefully and with approval, police will still investigate any misconduct by rally-goers. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Unity govt not perfect but willing to improve, says Anwar
Led by the opposition, nearly 20,000 people gathered at Dataran Merdeka yesterday to call for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister. PETALING JAYA : The unity government may not be perfect but it is open to improving on any of its weaknesses, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said his government was imperfect but remained open to taking in the views and suggestions given by other parties, Berita Harian reported. 'If there are any weaknesses, we can improve on them. I'm not saying that what we're doing is perfect, but we are always listening (to feedback) and ready to adapt where needed,' he was quoted as saying. Led by the opposition, nearly 20,000 people gathered at Dataran Merdeka yesterday for the Turun Anwar rally to call for Anwar to step down as prime minister. Aside from opposition MPs, the rally was attended by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar had reminded his political rivals to continue discussing and raising their concerns in Parliament and not just on the streets.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Turun Anwar? It'll be Anwar Naik, for a second term
I would like to congratulate many parties for the Turun Anwar rally yesterday, at which an estimated 20,000-25,000 demonstrators turned up in black, filling all of Dataran Merdeka. I will explain how this rally would actually allow Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to secure a second term in office. First, I would like to congratulate the unity government for allowing democracy to be practised in the searing heat and unhealthy air of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysians will be reminded that this government is unlike the Mahathir or Najib governments, which were against the Reformasi and Bersih rallies that easily saw 40,000 to 50,000 Malaysians of all backgrounds coming together on their own, without free buses and nasi lemak money. Second, I salute the police and DBKL officers for facilitating the rally with dignity and respect. This is a far cry from the days of Reformasi and Bersih rallies, which were met with batons, tear gas and that all-time favourite, the water cannon. Young Malays can ask my friend Tian Chua to recount his experiences: he sat in front of a few of those cannons many times. They can also ask one of my daughters about her stinging experience of tear gas while attending a Bersih rally, specifically against her father's order not to attend! Third, I would like to congratulate Perikatan Nasional for being able to organise in a militaristic fashion and mobilise 20,000 Malay supporters. 'Hidup Zahid' rally next? Will Umno answer with a stadium filled with 35,000 Malays? It should be easy if they can just get Siti Nurhaliza and Jamal Abdillah to come. It does not have to be an 'Anwar Kekal' rally but a 'Hidup Zahid' one. Come on, lah. Malaysians should know that the Turun Anwar rally was not directed at their potential and former political partner. Wink. Wink. Fourth, I would like to congratulate the Old Man himself for braving the heat without a sheltered podium. I once had to deliver a 15-minute speech in the hot sun at the May 13 Cemetery in Sungai Buloh, and sat waiting in the tent for 20 minutes. At 63 years old, I hastily left after my speech as my health could not tolerate it. But the Old Man was true to form. It so happens that I agree with everything he said about Anwar being a judge in the Batu Puteh issue. Right on, Tun M! We Malaysians should really be angry at Anwar for letting Tun off the hook. More so when we hear that his grandchild's house was robbed of RM1.8 million in jewellery and other things. My wife owns only a total of RM6,000 in jewellery. My granddaughter does not have jewellery. A turning point for Anwar Now that all the congratulations have been given, I come now to why I think the rally is a turning point for Anwar and the unity government with regard to the next general election. I have always known that PKR would be soundly beaten at GE16, because non-Malays have been listening to influencers and reading columnists criticising anything and everything Anwar has done, as well as for what he has yet to do. My readers and viewers reject me when I say that change takes time, and that we are required to change the way we look at things. But when the Turun Anwar rally threatened to bring around 300,000 Malays, my column and video about the rally received positive and frightened responses from non-Malay readers. In my column, I asked PN to show who they would replace Anwar with. They did not respond. I asked PN to show how they were going to solve the issues that Malaysians wanted solved quickly and efficiently. They did not respond. I asked PN to call out their own partners of old, GPS and Umno, but they did not do that either. The new political reality But as they were able to assemble nearly 25,000 Malays in the searing heat, Malaysians must take a long hard look at the reality of Malay politics that Anwar has inherited. In the days of old, Tun M had the Malay majority at his beck and call with money, projects, positions and other perks. Anwar is a bit stingy. He will not spend that much to make Malays come around to his side. I was actually hoping to see 300,000 Malays thronging the whole of Kuala Lumpur to send the message that it is an uphill task to change Malaysia with such 'kurang cerdik' Malays, who have been educated in schools and universites. To these Malays, as Tun M says, Malaysia belongs to them and, according to PAS, should be ruled under shariah law. If today's reality check does not teach Malaysians about the dangers we face in the near future, and about the forces who do not want to change and who face a government trying its very best to change for the better, we and our children will have truly lost the war for our future. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
