Independence means that the nation is free from any imposed political domination, citizens are sovereign and are masters of their own destiny. For that to be true, they must at least be able to think freely, express and exchange opinion, and, obtain and disseminate information without fear or favour.
As we celebrate the 51st anniversary of our Merdeka tomorrow and the 45th anniversary of Malaysia’s establishment in two weeks’ time, we should be celebrating our political adulthood. We should be proud that as citizens, we are a truly sovereign people, ruled by nothing more than the collective free will of our citizenship. We invite all Malaysians to ponder before lighting fireworks and joining the parade: Are we truly free? Are we truly sovereign?
Are we free? Just on the eve of Merdeka Day, one of Malaysia’s most popular news portal, Malaysia Today, was blocked by internet service providers under the instruction of the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). This instruction denied millions of Malaysians, who have shunned the mainstream media, their primary information source. The MCMC has cited the Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998 to force ISPs to use their best endeavour “to prevent his/her facilities from being used to violate any law in the country”. It is unfortunate that MCMC acted without Malaysia Today and its editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin being convicted or proven in court of any criminal offence. By invoking the block, the MCMC contravenes the government’s promise of no censorship and less regulation in the internet, when the multi-media super corridor was launched in 1998. It has also broken the law as Section 3 of the CMA states clearly that “Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet.” So, What has produced MCMC to toe the political line rather than adhere to the law?
Are we free? Just two weeks before Merdeka Day, the Home Ministry decided that we cannot read two more books, on top of at least 1443 books that were banned since 1971. One of the two latest banned books is a volume titled “Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism” authored by international experts and edited by renowned Malaysian sociologist, Prof Norani Othman. The book was published three years ago, so why the ban only now? Did the Home Ministry censorship board take three years to understand its content? In fact, are they capable of reading and understanding an academic book when they have not even produce a book review to pinpoint its flaws? Can we be a free nation when bureaucrats whose reading ability is questionable are deciding what we can and cannot read? Their power to curb freedom of expression stems from the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) which requires all periodicals to apply for annual renewable permits, which can be revoked and suspended by the Minister at anytime at his absolute discretion. In 1987, under Operasi Lalang eitght newpapers were suspended. Operasi Lalang also saw the arbitrary detention of 106 socio-political activists.
Are we free? When questioning of government policies or the judicial process by citizens can land one in prison under the Sedition Act, 1948, when truth cannot be a defence against charges, where “seditious tendency” are broadly and vaguely defined, when newspapers can be suspended for allegedly containing seditious matter (Section 9), what’s left of our public space to discuss issues that matter most and are therefore often termed “sensitive”?
Are we free? When there are 66 persons still detained arbitrarily and indefinitely without trial for opposing the government’s policies under the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960, when the Minister can subjectively ban any publications deemed to be “prejudicial to the national interest, public order, or security of Malaysia”, and his/her decisions cannot be reviewed by the judiciary. Are we free from the danger of arbitrary judgment of one politician? And, are we free when the very same repressive colonial laws that suppressed peoples’ struggles in the pre-Merdeka era are still continued and used randomly by the present government even after Merdeka?
Are we free? When citizens have no freedom of information to learn about public policies and decision-making process, when politicians and bureaucrats can easily deny public access to details of lucrative contracts and concessions, justified under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA), is it any wonder that corruption and power abuse become rampant? When we pay taxes and yet do not have the right to know how the money is spent, are we really the boss of the government? Or have we, the rakyat, instead become slaves to the very people we have elected?
Unfortunately, we are not free given the flaws and shortcomings in the CMA, PPPA, Sedition Act, ISA, OSA and other media-related laws. We will continue to be enslaved until we become truly politically free and democratic. We had merely replaced foreign colonial masters with domestic ones who rule over us by insisting that we are incapable of thinking and making our own judgment.
A true national independence is, therefore, overdue. It is possible only if all the media-related laws are put under thorough reviews and after taking on board the concerns of all Malaysians, regardless of economic interest, social-cultural background and political affiliation. A parliamentary select committee on media law reform must, therefore, be made a priority in our quest for independence, democracy and good governance. Calls to celebrate or to substantiate our independence by any political coalitions, are hollow if without a concrete commitment and roadmap to media law reform.
We call upon all Malaysians to press for the demand of media law reform by endorsing the 2008 Memorandum on Media Freedom on www.benar.org. The campaign for media law reform is extended to 27 October 27 2008, the anniversary of 1987 Operasi Lalang. Until we can ensure the freedoms of citizens and the media, Merdeka is not achieved. Let us fight for our second independence, this time from domestic authoritarianism – Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!
A Joint statement by
1. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran)
2. Benar for Free and Fair Media (Benar)
3. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
4. Civil Rights Committee, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
5. Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI@Parliament)
6. Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)
7. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section (KLSCAH-YS)
8. Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
9. National Alliance of Bloggers (All-Blogs)
10. People’s Parliament
11. Empower (Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti, Selangor)
12. Sister in Islam (SIS)
13. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
14. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
This statement was initiated by Benar and WAMI. For details, please contact Wong Chin Huat or Maria Chin Abdullah
cuddlyfamily
August 30, 2008
Well written.
May our children inherit a less “messy” nation than we are presently experiencing.
I have never felt so disheartened about my country before but there’s hope. There is always hope
Enjoy Merdeka, my fellow Malaysians!
CT Choo
August 30, 2008
I fully support the call and I have signed the Benar petition. Merdeka!
Paul Warren
August 30, 2008
For 50 years we lived in fear.
For 50 years it was fear that led our led us to the polling booth.
For 50 years we bought into the notion that the Government and Barisan Nasional were one and the same.
For 50 years we believed that if the UMNO led BN was gone, Malaysia will be no more.
For 50 years we thought without the UMNO led BN there will be chaos, and there will be instability. But why? No one asked. If not UMNO then surely someone else must be leading the country. Right? So why instability? Surely the someone cannot do any more worse than the UMNO led BN.
For 50 years we failed to ask, if the UMNO led BN loses and they keep telling us there will be chaos and instability, who it is that will be the cause of the chaos and instability?
For 50 years we did not see that what the UMNO led BN was telling us was that they were just as capable of being like Idi Amin or Saddam Hussein and do the kind of things we associate them with. So basically, their coats and suits were really a mask for the kind of gangsters they really are.
WE have to remember, if Pakatan Rakyat was to take over the government, they want a stable and a prosperous country. Not a country that is chaotic. So why would they want chaos and instability?
Many thought and feared that if an “opposition party” took over government, everything will be finished. But hey, its been 6 months now, and the 5 Pakatan States are still functioning. They employees are getting paid their salaries, there is water and electricity. Hospitals are still operating as usual. And kids have not missed a day of school. Of coures Penang lost a day on the 26th August. And we know why too.
Do we realise that in Permatang Pauh we saw the people now more easily shedding that fear that used to be the motivator of their vote more than anything else?
Do we see that in Permatang Pauh the Malays too did not see their Chinese and Malay neighbours as the demons that the UMNO led BN has always painted them out to be?
Do we see that Permatang Pauh with 69% Malays have told us that they are fed up with the race based politics as well? That they are ready to embrace their fellow Chinese and Indian citizens to becoming Anak Bangsa Malaysia?
Can this be the theme that gives us the confidence to look forward to the cross over of MPs in Barisan Nasional to PAkatan Rakyat?
Can we tell the good MPOs of BN who still have some conscience left to do the right thing and cross over? There is nothing to loose. Indeed everything to gain as well as they will be respected for this bold move.
Can we tell these MPs that they too have survived because of giving in to that fear?
Yes Rakyat Malaysia want Pakatan to take over ASAP!! WE can’t wait anymore.
As Bill Clinton said at the Democratic National Convention the other day, our friends and allies are impressed by the power of our examples and not examples of our power.
The UMNO led BN can only show us examples of its power. That is because they believe that we should all live in fear of that power. ITs good for them.
Do the UMNO led BN have any example that people will be impressed with for all that power they weild?
the other view
August 30, 2008
Free indeed we are. The freedom to suck the natinonal funds and the rakyat’s money. The freedom to lock up 16milliom in Hong Kong and probably much more. The freedom to strip the natural resoures, cut down the trees, strip the forests clean, pollute the rivers and the freedom to call these activities ‘sustainable logging’. The freedom to stay corrupt, appoint cronies and abuse the trust and power they had in their hands. The freedom to use C4 to murder and get away with the henious crime. Who dare say Malaysia has no freedom after 51 years of Merdeka? You only need to know where to seek for it.
The-Avathar
August 30, 2008
Are we really free, have our nation got independence from the British in the true sense or are we still following the concept of divide and rule which we adopted and adapted from them.
http://the-avathar.blogspot.com/
Shiok Guy
August 30, 2008
Let just have a Candle Light Merdeka this year!
http://shiokguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/candle-light-merdeka.html
I will light up in 12:00, 20:00 and 22:00 tomorrow
Merdeka!
Merdeka!
Merdeka!
Shiok Guy
cuddlyfamily
August 30, 2008
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“I don’t have much truck with the ‘religion is the cause of most of our wars’ school of thought because that is manifestly done by mad,manipulative and power-hungry men who cloak their ambition in God.”
– Terry Pratchett, 2008
playingwithfire
August 30, 2008
Independence? Has it really freed us? I will rather have the British rather than the present bunch of robbers ruling us.
rajraman666
August 30, 2008
rajraman.Feel the silent/still/mum/unsounded but understood long time ago we are struggling for freedom.
MERDEKA? ONLY NOW I CAN ASK TO THE WARLORDS WHAT IS MERDEKA BEFORE OPERASI LALANG.(if they are trying)
I like chopin
August 30, 2008
Damned the BN and especially Umno for destroying the true meaning of two most beautiful words-FREEDOM AND MERDEKA!
So,are we truly free? An absolute NO!!
tamade
August 30, 2008
Haris, are we free? Good question on the eve of Merdeka Day indeed.
Why MT was blocked by ICIC (which means “going to die”)?
My guess( it could be wrong):
The Botak Min,the Mongolian Woman’s murderer, together with the Selfish Akta Min from across the ocean (the land of Project Mamak Kutty) after listening to the ill advice of the Mamak Selfish Lawyer (who threw legal documents on the Court floor, a foolish and arrogant act indeed), have decided to block MT.
Why Mamak Selfish Lawyer? Well, RPK has refused to remove the articles featuring the Conspiracy master-minded by this Mamak Selfish Lawyer of UltaManNo.
Just listen to the explanation of brainless Botak Min, you will laugh till you fall to the ground. Those UltaManNo grassroot members must have shook their head in disbelief and even fainted after listening to this clown.
So, banned it, this is the best solution.
But then, MCMC in Bolehland becomes ICIC.
With this Mamak Selfish Lawyer around in UltaManNo, the Judiciary can never be independent and UltaManNo can never change for the better. Pathetic, right?
It’s a sad incident anyway on the eve of 51th Merdeka Day.
Patek1472
August 30, 2008
Aku menangis pada Hari Merdeka.
(I am Crying on Merdeka (Independence) Day.)
1. Aku menangis kerana rakyat Malaysia telah hilang kegembiraan dan perasaan terhadap masa hadapan negara yang diimpiankan dan tidak seperti semasa Allahyarham Tunku Abdul Rahman melaungkan “Merdeka!”.
(I cry because Malaysians have lost the joy and hope of a future Malaysia as wished for unlike the times when the late Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted “Merdeka”. )
2. Aku menanggis memikirkan ada rakyat Malaysia sendiri yang bercakap, berfikir dan bertindak memecahbelahkan rakyat dengan penuh perasaan perkauman dan keagamaan masing-masing tampa ada perasaan kebangsaan dan kesahabatan.
(I cry thinking of some Malaysians who talk, think and act to divide the citizens with their own racists and religious thoughts without a care for nationalism and friendships.)
3. Aku menangis memikirkan ada rakyat Malaysia yang lebih mementingkan sendiri dari negara apabila timbul isu-isu parti, jawatan, habuan, kuasa, kawan, kesahabatan dan keadilan.
(I cry thinking of some Malaysians who care more of themselves rather than the Nation when it comes to issues of party, posts, rewards, power, friends, relationship and fairness.)
4. Aku menangis memikirkan ada rakyat dan keluarga mereka yang masih belum mendapat keadilan sewaktu dipenjarakan, ditindas, dirompak, diugut, didiskriminasikan dan tidak juga dibenarkan bersuara.
(I cry thinking of some citizens and their families who have not obtain justice while being imprisoned, oppressed, robbed, threatened, discriminated and not even allowed the freedom of speech.)
5. Aku menangis memirkirkan ada rakyat Malaysia yang masih hidup Kias Pagi, Makan Pagi; Kias Petang Makan Petang walaupun Malaysia sudah 50 tahun merdeka.
(I cry thinking there are still Malaysians who still live from Hand to Mouth everyday, even though Malaysia has already achieved 50 years of Independence.)
Posted at http://patek1472.wordpress.com
Ole Timer
August 30, 2008
Yes, Haris, the ultimate answer to your question -”whether we are truly free?” – will be answered when we can change government. When we can vote in another party. When the voting process is free from fraud.
And whether the UMNO-BN entity will respect a vote of “no-confidence” and steps down accordingly.
Then we will know whether the UMNO-BN is a party of “Merdeka of 1957″ or we have exchanged one colonial master for another.
And not just “colonial master” but a despotic thuggish and exploitative illegitimate plutocracy.
cruzeiro
August 30, 2008
For what it is worth, “Happy Merdeka” to all West Malaysians.
No offense intended- but I shall include our Sabahan & Sarawakian brothers in my “Happy Malaysia Day” wishes, come 16 September.
This is the shadow of May 13, under which we live.
It is the flawed foundation/philosophy upon which our politics, economy and country was built, for the past 38 years.
If the foundations be flawed, is it too surprising to see Umno and its core BN allies become the schizophrenic Frankensteins that they are today?
I guess not.
I have little doubt that tomorrow, we would have been celebrating Merdeka for Malaya, and not Malaysia – had we engaged Sabah & Sarawak in 1963 with policies in existence today.
This is the “Merdeka” we celebrate – or is it actually “May 13″ that we celebrate?
=======================================
“Merdeka” & The Haunting Spectre of May 13.
http://cruzinthots.blogspot.com/2008/08/merdeka-haunting-spectre-of-may-13.html
wandererAUS
August 31, 2008
It took the Home Ministry 9 months to understand the contents in the article posted in MT blog.. the reason given to block it. So you should believe, the retarded brain of our HM required 3 years to digest the contents, before coming to a decision to ban the book, “The muslim women and the challenge to islamic extremism.”
Freedom is not a right to Malaysian, that is UMNO’s policy. Those who cherish freedom, they must be prepared to fight fiercely for it.
Anonymous
August 31, 2008
Anonymous said…
Where is the justice & freedom of expression because all our MSM News are suppressed or spun, where have the Truth and Merdeka gone to, perhaps the Dogs under BN Government ok??? Malaysia is going backwards after 51 years instead of going forward under the Racist UMNO, calling the Chinese Squatters to leave and Babi Parliament if Anwar wins Permantang Pauh and if he forms the Pakatan Rakyats’ Federal Government.
The UMNO Government is afraid that more cans of worms will be spilled by RPK and therefore they banned his blogsite which is a futile attempt to block information in this IT age, of course this is because of this Present Moronic Government is corrupted and dirty therefore on the pretext of helping the Rakyats, they could swindle and plunder more money from the Budget Deficit and with most of the Deficit Money coming from Petronas. Beware that the Money allocated is for their BN own Prime Minister’s and Cronies’ pockets expenditure and not for helping the Rakyats. Look for example at the Crystal Mosque’s and Mariner Club’s Fiasco in Terengganu’s Billions in Wang Ehsan, Billions had been lost as white elephants. The cancellation of the Johore Scenic Bridge, Penang Second Bridge and LRT Projects at the whims and fancies of the Flip Flop, Incompetent and Sleeping PeeM at the last minutes is wasting Multi Millions Ringgits in Public Funds had shown proof of the PeeM’s mismanagement of the Government and wastage of the Public Financial Resources and all these wasted funds could not be salvaged to aid and assist the Malaysian Poor Citizens of all races. If Malaysia still keep him in power will further damage and erode the Wealth of our Nation and our National Wealth coulsd be decimated in no time.
The same could happen to all the empty promises of aid and help to the Rakyats these could all be lip service only unless it is monitored by reputable NGOs. On the irreversible Food Prices inflation, the unnecessary Moronic previous price hike on Petrol & Diesel had caused great permanent damage to the Food Price Structure and even if the price cut to Petrol and Diesel revert to their original prices prior to their hike, it will not revert the Food prices back to their original state and only the PeeM is to be solely blamed for his unwarranted Fuel Price Hike. His 2009 budget did not help the Rakyats’ quelled their immediate hardship suffered nor did that help them solve their Transport Problems immediately with multiple schemes but none available immediately with all the empty rhoterics but nothing concrete that could solve their immediate problems after years of neglect from this incompetent sleeping PeeM. Come Sept 16, 2008 send him home to sleep forever he is no longer needed.
anna brella
August 31, 2008
Are we free?
Yes, but only for as long as our good Home Minister/Syed Hamid Albar and the good AG/Abdul Gani Patail wishes to bestow their grace upon us and so allow us our freedom. So you can…er….forget about any delusions you may have about any “inalienable right” to be free as (once was) guaranteed and granted by the highest Law of the land, the Malaysian Constitution.
And to The-Avathar:
Sorry, my understanding is that the British colonial rulers left in 1957, thus ending all their good and bad policies from that point in time, and leaving behind in the care of Malaysians the national stewardship of the complete independent Malaysian national balance sheet – which was very strong and had more than enough assets to cover any of the liabilities left behind to leave a vast net surplus in reserves to build-up the fledgling nation and to continue forwards in strength from that positive start position.
So I am afraid you cannot, with all due respect, pass any buck for the mess created since independence, and the fall in values in that positive starting balance sheet, to the British. That would be imo, illogical and also unfair.
On the contrary, the mea culpa for the steady erosion of values and resilience in that national balance sheet from 1957 onwards to the present state of mess lies squarely, without the shadow of a doubt, right smack in the middle of the racist, incompetent and corruptive greed and non-governance orientated “rule” of the UMNO-court, and its greedy and equally conscience-less and spineless courtier cohorts in the BN-coalition, and amongst who those in the MCA and MIC parties deserve a special mention for having been, what I can only say as, better than UMNO at enriching themselves and stabbing their “own people” in the back while pretending to…er…”take care” of “their people’s” welfare and interests.
Sorry for being harsh, but fair I think when it comes to speaking the hard truth as I see it from my perspective, whether that is…er….”rightly or wrongly” when viewed from other perspectives.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
proud2bmalaysian
August 31, 2008
Thank you for a bold and truthful statement of the state of affairs in Malaysia. Unfortunately, the BN government will think that this statement is anti-government. Also unfortunate that what they deem anti-government thinking is anti-rakyat.
Sadly, given our “BN-managed” freedom, we can safely say that the voters are now mature but our government has not grown up to this fact.
It is my hope that we see the true freedom within our generation. If GE12 can happen, I believe true freedom in Malaysia can happen too.
http://proud2bmalaysian.wordpress.com/
Dr.Lee Choong Hing
August 31, 2008
My opinion is a bit different. Since Merdeka in 1957 the BN led government had done of lot of good things but they had done a lot of bad things too. It is a must to undo the bad things they had done and we will definitely be on the road to a second Merdeka. Whether it be by Pakatan Rakyat or by BN it does not matter.
Alfred
August 31, 2008
Well said. We still have the freedom and the POWER to rid of the said Minister and the whole make up of UMNO. We have the freedom to vote hence everyone must be brave to embrace this right and create a future that doesn’t belong to a few in office.
True Malaysian
August 31, 2008
Malaysia is TRULY 100% PROTECTIVE Government. Many people in various part of the world whom I have the opportunity to associate with always passing in remark on the STRANGE POLICY of Providing Privilege to the MAJORITY in the country. Want to defend and talk about the New Economic Policy…… Good in intentions BUT the implementations are the data points are all full of question mark. How can the GLCs is not in the equation? The Concept of enriching 1% of the Bumi and Non-Bumi gettting filthy rich really negate the NEP objectives. How the Minority privilege be taken care off? The Governement should help us with the data and information on the Protection of Minority in this country to balance the lopsided perceptions of this country. Let’s have a base beginning and move on from here to where we want to achieve in the next few years.
The-Avathar
August 31, 2008
Dear Anna Brella,
I agree with you and I am not blamming the British either in my writing but merely suggesting that we should stop blaming the Brits but ourselves for allowing such a governance for a long time. Pun intended though!:-)
anna brella
September 1, 2008
Did not celebrate Merdeka today, regrettably, but maybe I will some year soon.
But I did take up the great suggestion and light up in support of Shiok Guy’s 20.00 and 22.00 candles!
And in trust and in hope for a better future, I would like to dedicate this famous and much loved poem to Haris and to all the other courageous anak anak Bangsa Malaysia out there fighting, peacefully, in their own and collective ways, and together with the tough and determined Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians to bring forth good change and true Merdeka for all in Malaysia.
The poem is by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) the author and poet who wrote The Jungle Book.
IF -
If you can keep your head when all around you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
So don’t give in and don’t give up. Keep fighting and make those to whom you have given the power to govern learn to care about YOU.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.