The majestic Democracy Tree that has now entered the annals of Ipoh folklore Photos by Jong (click to expand)
The raintree stands tall providing shade as the Perak State Assembly convenes an emergency sitting in the open air amidst the people.
All around, as Penang-based lawyer-writer Tan Ban Cheng observes, the traditional institutions of governance and democracy have not exactly distinguished themselves among the public.
Tense moments outside the state government building this morning (Click to expand)
In the public domain, serious questions and concerns are being expressed of certain sections of the civil service, the judiciary and the police in the light of recent events.
But among the people, the yearning for genuine grassroots democracy and real justice is still alive in their hearts. To ensure that our democracy is not fragile, we have to ensure that its roots are healthy and deep like those of the ‘pokok demokrasi’.
And the best way of doing that is to introduce local democracy (elections) at all levels right down to the kampongs and new villages – even in the open-air under the angsana trees. Once people get a taste of real democracy, it won’t be easy for it to be taken away.
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Can someone post some more pictures of the historic rain tree which is now refered to as Pokok Demokrasi.
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yeah oh yeah, democracy. the only democracy is to kick out the BN/UMNO government. please think about this people
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I pity and fear for the ol’ tree. Someone might cut it down and send it to kamunting or bukit aman for it’s safety.
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there it goes again.
Gosh, another Paul in the making….
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I think (they) will now go and cut down this tree. Just watch.
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More photos for me to post in my blog too?
We should be proud as this tree becomes our symbol of DEMOCRACY like Americans have their Statue of Liberty
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Hey Anil, ….Mr.Rocky in his blog refering this perak incident as communists struggle by quoting JMD blog. This fool needs to be remebered….thousands r refering our Govt. governace simimilar to ZIMBABWE. by the by who is similar to Mr.Mugambe…here? P or N ?
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The RAINTREE – one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
It came with a treacherous storm that submerged the external exhibition hall at PWTC.
Respect the Sultan!!!!!
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hi bro its me under psynodym “sayang Kinabalu”…am i just coined our democratic patriotism term ‘POKOK DEMOKRASI’?..its great but it i not mine..its ours the Rakyat Malaysia!
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as a symbolic gesture and believe in fair and just…can somebody collect the ‘original’ POKOK DEMOKRASI seeds and distribute it among Malaysian as a symbol of Democrasy..People Power to all Malaysian.
lets plant the tree on our land as a reminder of the rakyat struggle against these ‘modern regime’…as a reminder to ourself and our future generation…
if UMNO BN proud with their Pokok Semarak…
The Rakyat proud of their majestic Pokok Demokrasi
from now on pokok angsana also be known as POKOK DEMOKRASI
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With cries of the people and heavy plotting by Umno, what do you think the Sultan is thinking or doing right now? Just wondering.
CL Wong
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BN never knew how to plan because they are made of third rate mw\embers or equivalent players worse third Division English footbal team players.
When rhey stage a grab of power they took in ADUN whose integirty and credibility which is questionable. ADUN facing corruption cases -18 charges correct me if I am wrong.
On top of that they thought they have won the battle. But they forgot the speaker. Now the speaker is a real stumbling block to them
THIS TIME AROUND, THEY BAR THE PR FROM THE DEWAN THINKING THAT THEY HAD WON AGAIN.
BUT PR, MAKING UP OF SMARTER PEOPLE CHOOSE THE RAINTREE AS THE DEWAN.
THE BN FELLAS MUST BE REGRETTING FOR NOT CHOPPING THE RAINTREE DOWN.
HA!HA! wHAT IS LEFT OF YOU, BN?
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CT, Respect must be earned, not by birth right!
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[...] http://anilnetto.com/civil-society/pokok-demokrasi-stands-tall-as-institutions-lose-lustre/ (Democracy Tree) [...]
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BN is underestimating the PEOPLE’S POWER and they will
regret for it. It is a foregone conclusion that BN is going
to lose the coming bye elections and also the future elections
due to the fact that they are behaving undemocratically and
in double standard methods.
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Great title. But did you see how NST is spinning it as a farce?
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Syabas to the PR Aduns for their Honesty, Integrity, Men/Women of Principles on this historic day at this soon-to-be Historic SITE.
Make this TREE as the beginning of the People’s Power Struggle to topple the UMNO/BN in the next GE13 thru legitimate means.
Use this particular TREE as the SYMBOL of PR. Galvanise the PR,BN, NGOs to form a cohesive group to defeats the UMNO/BN goons in bye-elections and GE13. Prepare NOW while the IRON is HOT;set the momentum just like the People’s Power in the Philippines… Leave no stone unturn; it must be a DECISIVE Victory for PR/BR in the GE13; not by a SLIM majority which will create more problems.
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If PR take over the federal government in the next GE, declare rain tree as national tree!!!
Maybe their PR flag should have the rain tree as symbol just like that of Lebanon flag is symbolised by cedar tree.
Yes, it is good since rain tree provides shelter and abodes to many small plants and creatures. It can also symbolise the strength of PR.
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Bernama and its local counter-parts are so BN-driven that they cannot face the TRUTH and the WHOLE TRUTH. They are giving us lop-sided info and NEWS….
I am a Perakian and i didnt vote for BN to rule (so didnt many others i know) but they (BN) want us to sit and accept them as our leaders of state…sorry la i cannot. They (BN) are so scared to face TRUTH as they have always been. They cannot accept that people want them out..Thats the whole truth and nothing BUT the TRUTH.
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From now on, Perak will not have state assembly meeting probably until next general election. BN is so coward; totally has no gut at all even to call for a sitting of the assembly. So Perak will be governed without the state assembly. This is how the right of the people to be represented has been robbed in broad daylight. Malaysia Boleh!
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The parallels between the event in Perak and another event in the late 18th century in France are very interesting.
In both events, elected members of the Assembly were not permitted to enter the Assembly by the authorities who were expressing their loyalty to the king, Louis XVI.
The members of the Assembly then moved from the gates of the Assembly to another site and made a declaration.
In France it was a tennis court, and here in Malaysia it was a tree.
The Oath of the Tennis Court put France on the road to the French revolution – a bloody period of upheaval that led to executions, democracy, dictatorship, an emperor, another democracy, a new emperor and even a communist government.
What will the Declaration under the Tree lead us too?
Cheers, m
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Amazing to hear Ipoh police is looking for those who use harsh words at them . WOW!! … IS the PDRM also taking action against those goons who invaded the parliment the other day? Any arrest made??
No other work for PDRM to do cant even control crime heh heh heh they are just UMNO bodyguard?
Lucky Malaysians are like Zimbabwe , happy to suffer with just a bit of shouting and hoo ha and then sit and accept. If Malaysians are more like thai, Filipino or Burmese even all these goons will run hide behind their mummy sarong.
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it is a ‘yellow-flame’ tree = similar to ‘ flame of the forest’.
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Here is something from Wikipedia that caught my attention and made me smile:
Albizia Saman = Rain Tree = Pokok Pukul Lima/5 o’clock tree = Thoonga muunji maram/Tree with a sleeping face.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
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Syabas Pakatan Rakyat ! Pokok Demokrasi should be Pakatan Symbol to UNITE the RAKYAT under the umbrella of Keadilan-Pas-Dap & other parties really sincere in wanting to end the Corrupt & Injustice
way the Umno/Bn Goons is administering the country using ISA,Police & Judiciary ( dont ever forget ALTANTUYA case….where the smirking
Razak Baginda is now living the high life in London living in a multi million house…& oh yes and HIS BOSS who no Police or Judge dare to question till today ! ) to maintain power.
NO NO NO ….the Rakyat of Malaysia of all races DO NOT WANT the Corrupt,Arrogant,DECEITFUL,RACIST Politicians in our midst to rule us.
Hidup Keadilan-Pas-Dap …….Hidup REFORMASI ! Hidup Rakyat !
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