The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) held a press conference this morning in relation to the ongoing Perak constitutional crisis and the much anticipated sitting of the Perak state legislative assembly on 7th May, 2009.
I reproduce below the full text of the press release issued by BERSIH this morning.
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We the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) call upon all Malaysians to wear black to work, to school, in play or at home the coming May 7th (Thursday) to present “1BLACKMalaysia” to Prime Minister Najib Razak as our strongest protest to the on-going Perak coup he has orchestrated.
Despite the court’s scheduled hearing on the legality of Zambry Abdul Kadil’s legality as the Menteri Besar on May 5th and 6th, a sitting for the Perak State Legislature has been scheduled to begin on May 7th bypassing the speaker V. Sivakumar.
A motion has also been tabled to replace the speaker, who has vigorously defended the Legislature’s rights and power throughout the coup, with R. Ganesan, a non-lawmaker from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).
To prevent the public from knowing what would happen in the assembly, a “media curfew” was imposed whereby only 13 selected media outlets are granted access, on top of a general lockdown of the city of Ipoh, where the Legislature is seated. While the Zambry regime had since retracted the “media curfew” under strong public outcry, the initial move reveals a regime that fears public scrutiny.
These latest developments show total disregard of Najib Razak on rule of law and constitutional democracy in Malaysia. He has also ignored the voters’ wrath on unconstitutional means of power grab, as showed in the Bukit Gantang by-election where the margin for the ousted MB Mohammad Nizar increased by over 2000 votes.
Najib’s slogan: “1Malaysia, people first, performance now” is now a cruel joke on Malaysians. Is this the old “1Authoritarian-and-CorruptMalaysia” getting worse? What “people first” when people are forced to be blind, deaf, mute and immobile with the media curfew and city lockdown? What “performance now” when the “performance” in law-breaking may never be known?
In response to all these, we urge all Malaysians to wear black on May 7 th. It will be a peaceful but powerful message of civil disobedience that we the people are politicians’ bosses and no politicians defiant of public opinion can escape punishment at the next poll. Civil disobedience is a peaceful act that every citizen can participate and make a difference. In history, civil disobedience led by Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and the Polish people had successfully ended tyranny and injustice without bloodshed or disruption.
Let’s paint every state and territory, every town and village black with our clothes, headbands, hats, turbans, veils, armbands, ribbons and stickers on that day. Let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, a market, a mosque, a temple, a church, a college, a park, a bus, a commuter or LRT car, a ferry or an aeroplane .
Let us be united in one BLACK colour and let show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is “1BLACKMalaysia” living in darkness.
Let’s show the world that Malaysians will stand up against any invasion of democracy, freedom and peace by unscrupulous politicians. We will not allow coup be the way to power in Perak, or anywhere in Malaysia. No one shall take away our democracy, freedom and peace. Najib may hijack our unelected institutions like the judiciary, civil service, police and Election Commission, but he will never win our heart and mind. And he is no reformist until he dares to face elections in Perak.
Let us show Najib in one colour – “1BlackMalaysia!“. Let us tell him in one voice for Malaysia: “Democracy First!” Let us pose him the one solution for Perak: “Elections now!“
Yes, Mr Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the World, listen to us: 1BlackMalaysia! Democracy First! Elections Now!
Note : This statement is also endorsed by Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, Centre for Plicy Intiatives (CPI) and Anwar Ibrahim Club (AIC)
donplaypuks
May 5, 2009
I’m in! Black ‘yis and black ’twill be!!
yapsir
May 5, 2009
count me in too.
Black is beautiful.
Lets’all the anak bangsa Malaysia be in black.
ShiokGuy
May 5, 2009
Dear Bro,
My contribution..
http://shiokguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/mourning-arm-band.html
Black Malaysia.. I cannot be there due to fatherly duties to my 2 autistic sons
Shiok Guy
GoMalaysian
May 5, 2009
Wong Chin Huat hane been arrested!!!
Billy
May 5, 2009
Yes, I will be wearing black on May 7. This is the only way to show Najib, Zambry and gang, you all don’t “pray pray” with us honest, peace-loving citizens.
4RAKYAT
May 5, 2009
PAINT IT BLACK
The Rolling Stones
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I see a line of cars and theyre all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens evry day
I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then Ill fade away and not have to face the facts
Its not easy facin up when your whole world is black
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the settin sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin comes
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
Hmm, hmm, hmm,…
I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!
4RAKYAT
shar101
May 6, 2009
Chin Huat’s been detained by the PDRM as at 8pm.
Another reason to wear black and be visible anywhere in Malaysia on o7o5o9.
Mia Oleary
May 6, 2009
Get ready for mainstream media to write from 7 May that this campaign fizzled out and was a failure – thus getting endorsement from the rakyat that the takover of Perak by BN was justified.
I think its best to move on to Penanti fast.
For all you know, the Perak situation may be just one more red herring, like the conversion case now updated with a High court ruling.
Dont get distracted too much.
Plan proper timelines to address/face these challenges and keep updating the rakyat immediately through the blogs.
romerz
May 6, 2009
Thank you PDRM!
http://romerz.blogspot.com/2009/05/thank-you-pdrm.html
Leong Yook Kong
May 6, 2009
I am going to wear BLACK on 7 May 2009. I am going to SMS my relatives and friends to wear BLACK on 7 May 2009.
joenathan
May 6, 2009
I usually dont indulge in my lappy when I am watching my favourite program on the idiot box,what more if my favourite team Man Utd in action.But tonite my gut feeling was that,some thing interesting or rather un-interesting may be taking place in Malaysia.Hence I clicked on.Here,we go again.Another own goal scored by UMNO/BN.Activist Wong Chin Huat arrested for sedition!!!This is how Najib is going to review the ISA?Or is this a warning to Malaysians,not to gather in Ipoh in Black on the 7th,May?So much for his slogan of ‘1Malaysia.people first,performance now’.Can a leopard ever change it’s spot?
caravanserai
May 6, 2009
The black on 507
Something good something bad
We will know
When the day arrives
The snake and ladder
The map full of blocks and distractions
Covering intrigues and white lies
Dishing out menus
The people don’t try
The Pangkor pirate and his gang
Busying counting the eggs before it hatches
The last hurdle is going to happen
The house Speaker can reject it
Since he never resigns………..
Many wrongs can’t make a right
The Pangkor pirate better sails home
Leave it to the honest leader to decide
The affairs of running the state
The black on 507
The armbands and wearing black
The black knight sits in Putrajaya
Galloping hard sweat all over his face
The Ruler should correct the wrong perception
In the Assembly House he can play his card
Give the people the mandate to choose
The government to run the State
The black on 507
In history it will be said
Of the events leading to this stage
Let the people decide
It is their destiny for the State
anna brella
May 7, 2009
I too support the BERSIH motion to turn the nation black on Thursday 7 May 2009.
So…Yes, Mr Prime Minister of Malaysia, listen to us NOW as we, the Malaysian People, claim our inalienable right to our democratic and constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, amongst which are the right to choose to wear black and say whenever we please:
1BlackMalaysia! Democracy First! Elections Now!
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
Peter
May 9, 2009
I will try to wear black everyday, but not any black shirt or T-shirt. It must be a black shirt with a message like “1BlackMalaysia, Democracy first, election now” etc. Where can I buy such T-shirts? Anyone, please respond
ktteokt
May 12, 2009
Black is beautiful and everyone should wear black until the message gets across to these BN goons who think they are kings! They have forgotten that they got up there because the rakyat voted for them!!!!!