Makkal Sakthi fever hits Penang

 Democracy, Human rights, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Marginalised groups, Poverty  5 Responses »
Jan 262008
 

“Makkal Sakthi (People Power)!” thundered speaker after speaker. “Valga (Long live)!” roared back the crowd. I thought I would check out the atmosphere at the DAP ceramah at the Penang Chinese Town Hall in George Town tonight to gauge the mood among voters. The theme: “Bebaskan Hindraf 5 (Free the Hindraf Five).” When I arrived at the hall at around 8.00pm, it was full. More people were arriving and soon they were spilling out of the hall, where two screens had been put up for those outside to watch the proceedings. The total turnout was around 3,000, including the few hundred outside the hall. This was not your typical DAP ceramah. I had covered ceramahs in Penang, including those held at the Chinese Town Hall, for some years – but this was unlike anything I had seen. Instead of an 80 per cent ethnic Chinese crowd, this time Indian Malaysians [Read more]

Another step towards justice for murdered activist Munir

 Accountability, Asean, Global justice movement, Human rights  No Responses »
Jan 262008
 
Another step towards justice for murdered activist Munir

The long struggle to find out who killed Indonesia’s leading human rights activist Munir Thalib received a major boost when Indonesia’s Supreme Court convicted Polycarpus Priyanto, an ex-pilot for national airline Garuda, of poisoning Munir with arsenic during an international flight. But Indonesian police need to get to the bottom of this conspiracy once and for all and find out who within the intelligence community ordered his killing and how far up the chain of command the order originated. I am glad that the police have re-opened the case and will question intelligence agents for the first time about their involvement in the murder. Munir was a remarkable, passionate and courageous activist who took the numerous threats he received in his stride. He once said: Human rights in the sense of human solidarity has created a new universal and equal language going beyond racial, gender, ethnic or religious boundaries. That [Read more]

Penang civil society groups not letting down guard after stalling PGCC

 Civil society, Democracy, Development issues, Environment, Malaysian finance/business, People's Park/PGCC  3 Responses »
Jan 252008
 

This speaks for itself. Some people are saying the government’s change of heart is just an election gimmick. But there was intense pressure from civil society groups and ordinary Malaysians upset over losing a green lung and horrified about what the traffic would be like. It just goes to show what ordinary people can do, if they set their minds and hearts – and energy – to the task at hand. So now we have rejuvenated civil society groups, Hindraf/Makkal Sakthi, Bersih, Protes, Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA… The socio-political landscape has definitely changed. Many believed that Reformasi in 1998-2001 failed to achieve anything – but the seeds were planted then, and much earlier by all those concerned Malaysians over the years who believed in justice but never lived to see the fruit. DEVELOPMENT-MALAYSIA: Civil Society Stalls Eight Billion Dollar Project By Anil Netto PENANG, Jan 25 (IPS) – Civil society groups [Read more]

A new movement springs to life as Thaipusam devotees shun Batu Caves, throng temples elsewhere

 Ethnic and inter-religious relations, M'sian politics, Marginalised groups  20 Responses »
Jan 232008
 

Update – 8.45 pm, Penang: Some 2,000 Hindu Malaysians, clad in the orange of Makkal Sakthi, are on the streets, chanting, “Hindraf! Hindraf! Long live Hindraf!” It’s confirmed: The boycott of Batu Caves for the Thaipusam festival has been a success. Tens – perhaps hundreds – of thousands of Hindu Malaysian devotees have boycotted Batu Caves – which experienced at least a 30 per cent drop in attendance. They have instead turned to temples elsewhere for the annual Thaipusam festival. In the process, a new movement – Makkal Sakthi (People Power) closely associated with support for Hindraf – has sprung to life, flexing its muscles in numbers. What makes it astonishing is that there is no organised structure or secretariat behind the movement, made up largely of marginalised Indian Malaysians. It was instead just ordinary people sending out mobile phone text messages, asking people to stay away from Batu Caves [Read more]

Page 2 of 512345
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: