Pokok Demokrasi stands tall as institutions lose lustre

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democracy-tree

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.

perak-state-assembly-3rd-mar09-conducted-under-big-tree-0521

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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adrian
adrian
8 Mar 2009 7.36pm

Yes,yes,yes bennymat7, pokok demokrasi symbol of our struggle to rid us of corrupt umno/bn govt.
Beside murder of ALTANTUYA ,also we must NOT FORGET the honourable
Malaysians like Civil Rights Lawyer P.UTHAYAKUMAR now held under ISA & WAYTHAMOORTHY now in London both who brought the issues of the deaths of Indians while in Police Custody & the marginalisation of non muslims & non malay minorities, and Datuk ZAID IBRAHIM a rare man of principles-not easily found in Umno politics.
Admist all the bad bad news there is hope in REFORMASI !

bennymat7
bennymat7
8 Mar 2009 7.07pm

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… Read more »

anna brella
anna brella
5 Mar 2009 8.40am

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.

stcin
stcin
4 Mar 2009 6.34pm

it is a ‘yellow-flame’ tree = similar to ‘ flame of the forest’.

Danny
Danny
4 Mar 2009 5.35pm

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.

Moaz Yusuf Ahmad
Moaz Yusuf Ahmad
4 Mar 2009 3.20pm

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… Read more »

Ong Eu soon
4 Mar 2009 1.47pm

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!

SameSame
4 Mar 2009 1.44pm

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.

Peter
Peter
4 Mar 2009 1.41pm

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.

peter sng
peter sng
4 Mar 2009 12.14pm

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… Read more »

Siew Eng
Siew Eng
4 Mar 2009 11.32am

Great title. But did you see how NST is spinning it as a farce?

Dr.Hamid Ibrahim
Dr.Hamid Ibrahim
4 Mar 2009 11.25am

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.

wandererAUS
wandererAUS
4 Mar 2009 10.23am

CT, Respect must be earned, not by birth right!

Peter
Peter
4 Mar 2009 10.02am

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… Read more »

CL Wong
CL Wong
4 Mar 2009 9.29am

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

Halim
Halim
4 Mar 2009 9.25am

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

adingros
adingros
4 Mar 2009 9.18am

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!

CT
CT
4 Mar 2009 9.02am

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!!!!!

sharath
sharath
4 Mar 2009 8.41am

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 ?

http://pokokdemokrasi.blogspot.com

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
🙂

LBJ
LBJ
4 Mar 2009 1.02am

I think (they) will now go and cut down this tree. Just watch.

aca
aca
3 Mar 2009 11.46pm

there it goes again.
Gosh, another Paul in the making….

robin hood
robin hood
3 Mar 2009 11.39pm

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.

Johnny Cheah
Johnny Cheah
3 Mar 2009 11.00pm

yeah oh yeah, democracy. the only democracy is to kick out the BN/UMNO government. please think about this people

YELLOW BIRD
YELLOW BIRD
3 Mar 2009 6.33pm

Can someone post some more pictures of the historic rain tree which is now refered to as Pokok Demokrasi.