I guess old habits die hard.
Despite police assurances that the FRU, water cannons and tear gas canister launchers would not be deployed yesterday, I stopped of to buy rock salt before heading out to the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, the meeting point designated for those who wanted to join ABU at the rally yesterday.
The one photo I am posting here was nicked from Facebook. Thanks to whoever took the photo and posted it there.
Malaysiakini and FMT report 100,000 at the rally.
The police first said 80,000, then did a silly u-turn.
Arthur reckons that number would just account for those inside the stadium.
I think Arthur is right.
You judge for yourselves.
As it turned out, I did not need the rock salt.
Reports suggest PDRM only deployed 200 personnel to assist in getting people to the rally site.
Guess what?
BERSIH 2.0 also had Stadium Merdeka as the rally site.
It also drew about 150,000 people, which might be the number that attended yesterday’s rally.
And like yesterday, BERSIH 2.0 also had people streaming towards the stadium from various meeting points in the city.
Police and FRU personnel must take note that if yesterday’s was peaceful, BERSIH 2.0 also could have been just as peaceful.
So, too, the first BERSIH rally in 2007, the Hindraf rally and the numerous anti-ISA and other rallies.
Police and FRU personnel must ask themselves if they have not been misled thus far into believing that these rallies were a threat to peace and order.
They need to understand that the real threat to the welfare and well-being of the nation, including themselves and their families, is a regime that is on the throes of being removed and will stop at nothing to cling on to power.
Yes, old habits die hard.
As I moved about yesterday, I could not help pulling out ABU’s Pesanan Tulus Ikhlas Kepada Anggota Keselamatan and handing copies out to police personnel on duty.
Most accepted the same pleasantly.
From today, we must step up efforts to send the same message to the police and military that went out to the police yesterday : we want to peacably bring about changes for the good of all. Join us to bring the UMNO / BN regime down.
Ali Karim
January 13, 2013
As I left the stadium field at 4:00pm (Hadi Awang was dragging) there were still room for another 5000 to occupy. Outside another 10,000 can join. It was so jammed pack as those whom have been to Mecca would agree. Still the air was electrifying.
My advice to organizers, please do not shout into the mike (its deafening) and to keep speeches’ in the KISS format.
Apart from that, it was great.
daud
January 13, 2013
……..and no parangs,bombs ,molotov cock tail was “found” at various places in the city.
Guess what happened to the same, maybe it was dropped off after a ‘shooting’ as evidence that teenagers are dangerous criminals.
Could be the present igp found no need to impress his bosses about communist threats.
bigjoe99
January 13, 2013
Admist all these talk of PR chances of getting to Putrajaya, the main point of the intellectual debate is lost – Mahathirism and Mahathirist HAS LOST THE NATIONAL DEBATE. It does not matter in the larger debate even if UMNO/BN wins the election. They have lost the national argument.
Firstly, even if UMNO/BN wins it will be by a very small margin and its understood its by cheating so the win means nothing intellectually…Second, after 55 years in power, after Badawi first swept in with huge popularity more than 8 years ago, the debate is settled now given Anwar’s revival – the people reject Mahathir and Mahathirism..
The only question remain is whether Mahathir and Mahathirist has lost their debate with the Malays. But after 3 decades of influence, the fact that Mahathir and Mahathirist is not winning their argument easier says that the Malays demand really better than Mahathir and Mahathirism and if they were true patriot they accepted it. So even the debate with the Malays is pointless – the Malays demand better, Mahathirism and Mahathirist are not good enough..
The real tragedy is that from the old man insist on continuing his pointless debate and be a drag to this nation and his people who already knows and DECIDED they want to walk away from it. Its the civic and patriotic duty whoever leads this nation, including UMNO/BN to decisively do it
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 13, 2013
Haris,
That pic above is the 2nd I have seen which shows the surrounds of the Stadium, looks like it was taken at a slightly later time, so there are evenmore ppl in the pic.
I am a bit concerned that PDRM does not seem to be able to make good assessments of crowd numbers. I think those in charge need more training.
Trust you to take the opportunity to hand out pamphlets to the police personnel on duty.
You are quite right in saying that the police and the military must be made aware of the peaceful intentions of the rakyat.
What can I say except, more power to you, Haris Ibrahim
vsp
January 13, 2013
If you strip out the trees from the photo, there is another 50,000 people crawling underneath them’
KTWong87
January 13, 2013
But the once-SIL aka “youngest PM hopeful” still had the gall to declare:
“…the rally was a demonstration of the Prime Minister’s transformative plans in action. The Government, he said, had lived up to its commitment of allowing peaceful
assemblies following the passing of the Peaceful Assembly Act last year.”
Source:
Khairy credits PM’s transformation plans for peaceful rally
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/1/13/nation/12570266&sec=nation
Which mirrors his Tweeter comments yesterday.
Aiyoh want to bodek ke? Maybe increase his miniscule chances of standing inthe looming GE13?
Cell
January 14, 2013
He’s giving a gud blob to Najib ni. Try polish Pam’s ball harder
Wave33
January 13, 2013
UMNO is taking credit from KL112. MSM is saying kudos to UMNO for it. They thought we have forgotten how brutal the polis was on Bersih 3.0 and previous demonstrations.
No polis was procecuted for the polis gangsterism on Bersih 3.0 yet. Why? It is IMPOSSIBLE their cannot identify among themselves who are the culprits from the HUNDREDS of photos and videos. It proves that all of them are in together, they all accessories to the brutal crime. The whole Polis Raja Di Malaysia is corrupted. I really hope and pray there is one god fearing polis who will come forward to identify all those gangster polis. Can one polis officer step forward, please. Musa Hassan?
KL112 has also proves, that Polis Raja Di Malaysia is not independent from UMNO. They are dependent. They follow instructions by the dot.
My surprise was, The Star headlines today, it is front page news. Previously, it was only on third page onwards. UMNO is using new tactics now. Will it work? Perhaps on the kampung folks.
ABU!
S. Menon
January 13, 2013
I have posted this comment on an earlier posting in reply to AABM but, I think, it bears repeating.
In 1957, just before I took my Form 5 Cambridge School Certificate examination, I stood on a padang, proud as hell thinking that, finally, finally, we would be growing our own green, green, grass of home.
Sadly, I was mistaken, for that expected freedom was dashed by a long series of crass, materialistic politicians who served nobody except themselves and their cronies. And I felt ashamed of what my country had become.
Yet, yesterday, thousands upon thousands of my fellow citizens stood on that same padang, proudly proclaiming that the initial dream still lives on. I am now in my Seventies but I now know that the grass is still green, AND IT IS STILL GROWING. I heard it growing all day yesterday, and for the first time in a long, long while, felt proud of my country, and my countrymen!!
Ellese 2
January 13, 2013
Himpunan Kebangkitan Rosmah
http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2013/01/himpunan-kebangkitan-rosmah-najib.html
shakuntala
January 13, 2013
Khairy Jamaluddin is just a saga boy…..don’t take any notice,of his gimmicks, he sucks up to the Chief and tries his luck. He declared once at a public lecture, that he feels sorry for the PM, so he stops at office to cheer him up!!!!
shakuntala
January 13, 2013
You are right Haris, they’ve been tutored to not make reply, not to reason why, but to do. Although, the younger ones do try to give you a smile and a nod, now and again you meet up with these types, and you really feel sorry. I guess they finally have no guts to rebel or leave…..prisoners of their own choice.
Some I think feel touched by the public gestures. There are times when people call out to them and they do reciprocate. In any group brainwashing, there are bound to be intelligent ones who can see through the fact that the public are nice people after all.
From personal experience I do know that some of the boys are nice young men…..maybe they regret being with a corrupted regime, quite right.
Taipan
January 14, 2013
Credit should be given to the Police for their good behaviour in carrying out their duties especially on traffic controls. It was a refreshing change for a start. Be it they were told to do so or otherwise, they earned this token appreciation of the Rakyat nonetheless. The PDRM should take it from here it is not their duties to carry out the dirty works for Umno.
Away from this topic, when you turned my Bersih t-shirt into an ABU one, I had some thoughts on how best I should make use of the sticker after the event. I had it stuck in Pyramid when I picked up my old lady. I watched from nearby for the impact and, sure enough, motorists slowed down to have a glimpse on their way out. I am now wondering if I should do one on the Cawangan Umno in my area. Cheers, Bro!
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 14, 2013
Taipan,
ROFLMAO!! For Gawd’s sake, please do be careful
shakuntala
January 14, 2013
ABU is now near enough an household word…..have no doubts. People grab any publicity on ABU…..the material on it is what they want to KNOW about. Mainstream media exists to polish off the sins, but ABU exposes, hits you in the eye.
Just imagine what a treat ABU’s info is to people who are not computer savvy…..like old people, they sit in coffee shops, they are people who know what is happening. They talk about the politics of this country….ABU is a further insight into what they already know.
Voter Wan Abdullah
January 14, 2013
Ellese 2. Din someone said you were a BN cybertrooper ? But your comment
Himpunan Kebangkitan Rosmah:
http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2013/01/himpunan-kebangkitan-rosmah-najib.html ) is a surprise indeed if you were a BN cybertrooper. Anyway thanks for that link…it show some 150,000 ( lol) attending Najis function in Semenyih with all free goodies.
Its NOW high time to ABUkan & Bersihkan Malaysia. Time is of essence.
Every Vote Counts.
Its NOW or NEVER.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 14, 2013
Wan Abdullah,
“Ellese 2″ is possibly a nick-hijack.
It’s a common technique is used both by trolls and troll-killers to impersonate each other. I think the rational is that the conflicting posts will cancel each other out over time as readers begin to ignore both posters.
On the other hand, it could just be an Ellese sympathiser who is showing the other side of Ellese. There is insufficient info at the moment.
Voter Wan Abdullah
January 14, 2013
Haris was spot on about the PDRM. HKR112 shows that Bersih 1, 2 , 3 & even Hindraff would have been very peaceful if not for UMNO/BN planting agent provocauters.
ABU is doing a great job in educatin & informing the PDRM & Army so that they can see thru the evils of their master .
Thus we must help ABU via Haris to raise funds to spread the message of ABU for A BETTER Malaysia for ALL Malaysians.
shakuntala
January 14, 2013
Another Anak Bangsa……we are just disseminating info, whatever we do is slight compared to the huge sins already committed……it is they who are maxima culpa, not us small fries who are yearning for change from absurdities and so are just informing.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 14, 2013
shakuntala,
You guys are doing a great job informing other Malaysians of the criminals who run our country
As a Malaysian, I am grateful to people like you and Haris and many others on this blog who have contributed directly towards making Malaysia a better place for future generations of Malaysians.
More power to you, shakuntala
Rcaim
January 14, 2013
The Stadium Merdeka originally had a seating capacity of about 30,000. Many years later its capacity was increased by more than half. Apparently the police have deliberately chosen outdated figures. Quite silly of them.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 14, 2013
Rcaim,
Good grief!! So, my own estimates are way out as I had based them on a sitting capacity of 30K.
I had also not taken into account a point raised by vsp above – there were people under the trees. One of those “of course!!” moments when pointed out
Originally, I had a total attendance, inside and outside stadium, ranging from 100K (unlikely) to 200K (quite possible) meaning that an estimate of 150K seemed reasonable.
Well, looks like I’ll have to rework my estimates.
Ali Karim
January 14, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR 13 JANUARI: Pakar matematik, Prof Dr Shahrir Md Zain menganggar lebih 700,000 orang menyertai Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat di Stadium Merdeka, semalam.
Memetik Penang Insight, bekas profesor Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) itu dilapor membuat anggaran itu di laman facebook beliau.
“Kalau berjalan 20 orang melebar sepanjang satu kilometer (km), jumlahnya 100,000.
“Andaiannya ialah 10,000 kaki sama dengan satu kilometer, seseorang memerlukan dua kaki persegi untuk bergerak dengan selesa.
“Jadi, lebar jalan 40 kaki dan 5,000 orang boleh memanjang jalan. Lalu, 5,000 (orang) darab 20 (orang) ialah 100,000 (orang per kilometer).
“Pertanyaan saya, berapa kilometerkah seluruh orang yang datang HKR. Jawapannya ialah 700,000,” katanya dengan mengambil kira pandangan dari atas pada lingkungan tujuh kilometer.
Nyata, ia bertentangan dengan kenyataan Ketua Polis Daerah Dang Wangi, Asisten Komisioner Zainuddin Ahmad dalam Buletin Utama TV3 yang hanya menganggar 40,000 orang sahaja menyertai HKR.
Sedangkan twitter rasmi PDRM pula menyebut 80,000 orang menyertai HKR tetapi kemudian membuat pembetulan.
Ali Karim
January 14, 2013
The stadium was later demolished off the extended sections to its original state with 40,000 seating capacity as part of a memorial for national heritage. The track and field was also occupied by another 5,000 people + overflowing crowed at walkways, fences, stairs and slopes inside the stadium would have grossed around 47,000. My 20 cents…
freeyellowman
January 17, 2013
“Andaiannya ialah 10,000 kaki sama dengan satu kilometer…” – Ali Karim quoting “Pakar matematik” Prof Dr Shahrir Md Zain
__________
“Pakar” ? Really? One kilometer is NOT 10,000 ft. One kilometer is 1,000 meters which is about 3,200ft. This is primary-school math, and he failed that. The bar cannot be much lower than this… sad…
baronvonchesto
January 14, 2013
DAMN! I feel like such a fool for not bringing some “Pesanan Tulus Ikhlas kepada Anggota Keselamatan” pamphlets with me….
At any rate it is important to note that there were no FRU there. They are the real bastards
Nicholas
January 17, 2013
It is a truly a Malaysian Malaysia feeling – I guess Malaysians have had enough of being taken for a fool and made a sucker for everything regardless of race or religion.