Police-created chaos at Perak hunger strike condemned

As the May 7 state assembly sitting will go down in history as a day of lawlessness and unbridled abuse of power by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Umno-BN lawmakers, the May 26 Perak hunger strike will go down as another dark day of police intimidation and use of brute force.

Amid police-created chaos and disorder, Pakatan Rakyat leaders launched a three-day hunger strike to protest the coup d’etat hatched by Najib, with the help of the state’s Sultan, in February.

While police were quick to blame the Pakatan for ‘infringing’ unknown laws such as showing uncensored video footage of the controversial May 7 sitting, the busting up of Tuesday’s hunger strike was actually pre-meditated and pre-planned.

More than 10 FRU truck of light strike force personnel rolled up to the Wisma DAP in the early hours of the morning, before 7am, when only a few workers were present erecting tents for the 11am event. They then surrounded and encamped themselves in front of the building in a bid to prevent the peaceful protest from taking place!

Suara Keadilan appends below the comments of various leaders and their reactions to the police fiasco, surely another slap in the face for Najib and his cousin, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Both men have expressed the need to expand the democratic space in the country, but so far, neither men have walked the talk. Treachery and oppression have now become the twin hallmarks of their fledgling administration.

Nizar Jamaluddin, Pakatan Menteri Besar Perak
Don’t fear these blatant attempts to silence the people. Perakians and Malaysians, please have courage because in the end, right will always conquer might.

I also urge all Muslims to show solidarity by fasting together. We must not let Najib and his Umno party frighten us or prevent us from carrying out peaceful protests to express our feelings and wishes.

Surveys show that 90 percent of the people want the dissolution of state assembly. People don’t want a menteri besar elected by a court. They want a menteri besar elected by the people.

The doctor said if you have kencing manis (diabetes) or darah tinggi (high blood pressure), not to fast. As an engineer, I say that if you have darah manis (sweet blood) or kencing tinggi (a lot of urine), it would do you good to fast.

We see the police spending RM8 million on each by-election claiming to guard the safety of the people. But when BN does not contest in Penanti, the police are not there. This shows they are only there to guard the safety of BN leaders.

Koon Yew Yin, Perak-born philanthropist businessman
Remember sooner or later only you can choose the government and only God can stop you from choosing.

Tian Chua, PKR strategic affairs director and Batu MP
It is the spirit that counts and that is something Najib can never take from the people nor the Pakatan. Hidup rakyat, Perak!

Nga Kor Ming, Pantai Remis ADUN and Taiping MP
Gandhi also had a 21-day hunger strike which forced the British colonialists to negotiate the independence of India. But here in Malaysia, put up tent cannot, gather cannot, wear black cannot, hold candles cannot, drink teh tarik also cannot.

Lee Boon Chye, Gopeng MP
Tak nak makan pun tak boleh. Mana Malaysia Boleh? A state government must have the legitimacy of being elected by the people, not one that is the result of a power grab. This has been proven by the events of the past four months.

The people of Perak people cannot settle down because they have not accepted and will not accept the Umno-BN administration because it was not their choice. It was forced on them by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Ngeh Koo Ham, Sitiawan ADUN and Beruas MP
This is really shocking behaviour from the police. The intolerance that they have shown today is an omen for the country. Malaysians must put a stop to this, we can no longer condone such practices.

Why did police stop us from showing videos of the May 7 assembly but MCA’s state executive councillor Dr Mah Hang Soon was allowed?

Suara Keadilan
26/05/09

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