The title of this post was put together by borrowing and re-arranging some of the words of a sajak powerfully presented by Rahmat Haron at the PROTES rally at the Kelana Jaya stadium today. I hope someone is able to put up a video clip of this very powerful ‘people power’ presentation.
Meesh, Helen, Winnie, Crankshaft, Shar101 and I got to the stadium at about 12.30pm.
Enroute, encountered a Pakcik who was on his way out. He lamented that the rally had turned out to be more of a pesta rather than a demo. Said it would have been better at the KLCC.
Also, could not help noting the very sparse police presence and the total absence of any FRU in the vicinity although, once in the stadium, my attention was drawn to cops on the top of the Glomac 3 building keeping tabs on the goings on in the stadium. ( See the first and the last photo below )
In the stadium, chatted with one Arun. He works as a clerk in KL. Told me that he was at the stadium with his family to show support for the rally and to send a message to the government that ‘enough is enough’.
Another attendee, Tan, who had been there from the morning, said he was there to listen to what the organisers had to say. He, however, expressed disappointment that politicians were taking advantage to turn a civil society, anti fuel price hike rally into a ‘tumbang BN’ propaganda exercise. Tan estimated that the crowd that morning had reached about 15,000 in number.
We left the stadium around 1.30pm
Kudos to PAS’s unit amal boys. Once again, you have done an amazing job!
Before I leave you with photos of the rally, let me share my thoughts on the same.
What’s the purpose of a demo?
For me, it’s an opportunity for people to come together, and to know that they are not alone in registering their concerns and dissatisfactions with those mandated to govern.
A demo does not have to be on the streets, and it must not lead to violence, be it by participants or the law enforcers.
And if it can be held in an atmosphere devoid of fear and intimidation, whilst achieving the objects of ‘peoople solidarity’ and ‘people power’ delivering its message, I would say that such a demo went well.
July 6, 2008 at 4:56 pm
It does look more like a carnival than what I expected. But it shows how us people have matured, I think, to have peaceful gatherings like this.
July 6, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Haris, you are 100% right. The History of mankind has proved one thing, all dictators and all corrupted Guomen will fall when the Rakyat unite and show them their colour.
The sea of Red is the colour of raging fire inside the Rakyat’s heart, to protest the incompetence and mis-management of Federal Guomen and the corrupted ruling elites.
The sea of Yellow in BERSIH movement is the colour of noble course of the Rakyat to have a clean government, upholding the Principles of Democracy and Rukunegara.
The Rakyat will show these mediocre and greedy political leaders the true colours in times to come.
This is only a start.
July 6, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Haris, who are on the rooftop? Army/police snipers?
giko,
Could not make them out for the distance.
July 6, 2008 at 5:50 pm
just make sure Anwar is afe tonight. Make sure he wears his bullet proof vest. Make sure the podium is checked and counter checked before he takes control of it. If possible make sure there is bullet proof glass in front of him.
Haris, I’m serious. Dont take chances !
July 6, 2008 at 6:08 pm
[...] credit is due – I almost didn’t see a single cop today (though they were there, according to Haris’ insightful post), and certainly no [...]
July 6, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Giko…up on the rooftop is Big Brother watching and hearing with high powered high tech equipment.
But that is no match to the spirit of the Pakchik and Makchik and the Amma with her brood. The spirit of the people lies with them.
They are definitely affected by this exorbitant rise. You can see it on their faces…and so they came to say their piece and display their dissatisfaction.
July 6, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Looking at my diary for the next 3 weekends, it’s wedding, wedding and wedding. One of which will be in my Kg Ketari. I wonder whether there are weddings too, in Karak or is it Sg Dua bro Haris ?
Sorry to digress … Life goes on man !
dzin,
Let me know when you’re going to be this side. Maybe we can do a rawa thosai and cow’s milk tea.
July 6, 2008 at 7:35 pm
On the roof looks like two parabolic audio reflectors. Probably also as directional finders. I am sure they are listening to any whispers that the PR leaders are making. There also seems to be one HD camera on a tripod.
Why waste all these resources on a peaceful gathering? Fools!
July 6, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Yes, it is a good thing. The important issue here is the message the people want to send to this government. We don’t have to resort to street protest and cause inconveniences to our fellow members. So keep it up and I hope by the end of today we have more than 100,000 people.
July 6, 2008 at 9:06 pm
rakyat must realise this truth,there won’t be any gorvment if there’s no rakyat!a genuine democracy must be n hav to be ‘by the people,of the people,for the people”!doen any of the above fit well with umno/BN??
July 6, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Well done!!
I am so happy to look at all the pics. How I wish I could be there.. I’m just too far away..
July 6, 2008 at 9:56 pm
[...] history today! Surprisingly today, hardly any cops or army were seen except for some. Read Haris Ibrahim for a detail account of the great event. See pictures [...]
July 6, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I fully agreed that demos must not necessary end up in violence. It is indeed a good start to change the image of demonstration in Malaysia to something more ‘friendly’ and carnival like.
I believe this is more acceptable to the majority of the Malaysian.
Well done to the organiser.
We can have more of such activities in future too!
July 6, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Looks like a well organised and powerful demonstration of people power to me.
So a resounding SYABAS! to Dr Hatta Ramli and his able PAS amal-team for doing the hard leg-work in organising today’s successful demo-pesta. Bravo! And more, more please!
I can see the awesome strength of people power quietly emanating through my PC from all those smiling and determined faces of a good representative cross-section of the Rakyat.
And great photos, Haris – particularly no.7 – where the Pakcik’s t-shirt and the Makcik’s headband says it all! Bet some slick, oiled feathers at Putrajaya are getting ruffled today from the strong gusts of people power blowing in at them from Kelana Jaya.
Bet also that it’s only a matter of time before the Rakyat will be able to protest and demonstrate together peacefully in any colour they choose, and walk to/from wherever they please, with their professional police force keeping watchful tabs over their civil rights activities (from a safe distance like today) in good stewardship, thus maintaining law and order but doing so subject to the bigger picture of the Rakyat’s fundamental civil liberties as enshrined in their nation’s Rule of Law. That surely is the noble end of the destination from Kelana Jaya today.
And in that world-renowned spirit of Malaysian hospitality, how about you, Haris, sending up some of your rawa thosai and cow’s milk tea (or some ice-cold cendol?) to those PDRM snooper troopers up on the roof?Maybe get everyone there to give them a collective people’s wave too? Must admit to feeling a wee bit sorry for them you know, being left-out in the heat and treated as outcasts, and so missing out on that sense of true self-esteem/personal worth and camaraderie with the Rakyat.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
July 7, 2008 at 1:48 am
Bro,
I think GERAMM’s target and objectives are a bit unrealistic. Look, we’ve been misled by the media thinking there’s military presence around, secondly communications were jammed because of SBs at Glomac. Third, the atmosphere in a stadium is totally different than it is done on the streets like Bersih and finally it kind of dragging too long. After the afternoon prayers, it seems the momentum from the morning session is lost.
BTW, I noticed the pictures are too blue-tinted. Was it deliberately set or was it like that each time a shot is taken?
Melvin,
Photos were like that each time a shot is taken
July 7, 2008 at 8:00 am
[...] Jangan lupa, kena ingat! Rakyat bersatu, takkan kalah! [image] The title of this post was put together by borrowing and re-arranging some of the words of a sajak powerfully [...] [...]
July 7, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Dear Brother Haris,am glad that the rally was peaceful.But shouldn’t the organiser shorten the duration,say about 2-3 hours so that more people have the urgency to gather within that time frame instead of making it a whole day event,thus giving the people the reason to take their own sweet time to come out?
Honestly,when I reached there around 12:00pm,I thought I was at a family day event or even a pasar tani instead of a rally.Seeing the pace and the lack of crowd,I left shortly,admittingly quite dissapointed.
Do you think the goverment will sit up and take note of our unhappiness given yesterday’s lacklustrous turnout?
I like chopin,
I, too, thought that the programme was too long.
Even so, I’m sure the gomen has missed nothing. After all, their snoopers had the best seats to watch the show, up on Glomac 3!
July 7, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Najib said PROTES is a failure. He will learn the true meaning of FAILURE soon. Perhaps that should be speed up. We the Rakyat will ensure that you get the taste of the word sooner than expected.
Bravo and SYABAS to the organiser all those who made the rally a success!!!
July 8, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Hello semua! Walauapepun ‘cengkadak’ yang media putarbelitkan… hanya yang hadir mengetahui…. PROTES yang bermula dari pagi sampai petang berjaya!!!! Perjuangan rakyat harus diteruskan!!!! lawan tetap lawan!!!