Freedom March
11 November 2007
Were you making a trip to the capital of this country yesterday? Did you know what happened in KL yesterday?
If yes, you will be obviously stuck in a horrific traffic jam. I was just like you. And it took me freaking 2.5 hours from Banting to reach the city centre.
Picture was taken by Isaac at Federal Highway.
There were several roadblocks along major highways leading to the city. Each roadblock reduced the traffic to only one lane.
Isaac was stuck in the jam of Federal Highway when he was on his way to meet us in Times Square. Unfortunately, Kevin & I were too stuck in Banting-Klang trunk road before getting stuck again in Kesas Highway heading towards KL.
It was indeed a horrendous traffic jam. How could I ever take 180 minutes to reach Times Square from Banting?
Now why the roadblocks, you must be wondering.
This is the reason why.
Picture in courtesy of Malaysiakini.com
Tens of thousands of protesters massed outside Istana Negara this afternoon, facing off against riot police in defiance of a government ban on the rally calling for clean and fair elections.
A rally that was not approved by the police and the ruling government, but the organisers insisted on the gathering to go on.
Picture in courtesy of Malaysiakini.com
Bersih (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections), a union of 5 opposition parties and 67 NGOs, has organised this peaceful gathering to submit a memorandum to the King pressing for electoral reforms.
For those who haven’t been following on the political news on the current issues, it will be tough for you to read this entry. I am not sure whether you are aware of this organisation launched on 23 Nov 2006.
Isaac captured this shot for me as I knew I will definitely miss this due to the traffic jam in Banting.
Isaac rang me up as soon as he passed by these protesters. I heard them shouting through the phone.
“Daulat Tuanku“, which means ‘Long Live the King’, the phrase that most of us heard.
Freedom March across Jalan Kuching, picture captured by Isaac.
Although it was raining in the afternoon, the people who decided to join this rally, never gave up in the march to Istana Negara.
(For more pictures and precise details about the rally yesterday, please click here)
How do I feel about this?
It was this video that really prompted me to join the gathering.I failed to do so.
To me, I really desired to walk the freedom march. My dad warned me not to, just in case it turned chaotic when the police force come in power. I told Daddy I will only pass by Dataran Merdeka without getting off the car, and definitely not wearing yellow to avoid police investigation during roadblocks.
The police roadblocks were the stumbleblocks. By the time I reached KL yesterday, it was already 5pm.
This peaceful gathering in fact meant a lot for me, for my family and for the country that I am living in. The gathering is indeed the collective voices of the concerned citizens like you and me.
I used to be proud to call myself a Malaysian when I was young. I hope I could still shout the phrase loud and clear in future. I yearn for the change just like most NGO’s and Bersih desired.
I yearn to see the citizens to own the rights in governance of the country.
I yearn to see the country being ruled by a government free from corruption but a heart to serve the nation.
I yearn to see the country being ruled by righteous leaders who are God-fearing.
I yearn to see the citizens living in peace and harmony across all races and religions in this country.
I yearn to see the country to wipe out all the nasty corrupted politicians.
I yearn to see the government managing the available funds wisely.
I yearn to see the citizens who are in overseas to return and help the nation to grow.
I yearn to see the constitution of the country being upheld as the highest law in the country.
I yearn to see Malaysia reaching the vision 2020, as a nation that all citizens are proud of one day.
I yearn for a change at least. But, can we?
You tell me.
- 12 Comments »
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Posted by Grace at 5:07 pm
Categorised as KL & PJ unveiled, Malaysia Boleh & Poli-Circus!!
November 11th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
For the Sultan to ask the royal guards to stand aside and receive the letter petition, it sounds like the royalty of Malaysia wants to have a say in this matter and also they are probably thinking of what the people can do as the people leads to not only the future of the country but their own future as well.
If parliament is disbanded and a new temp government set up in the meantime, its about time things changed and a probable new Malaysia might be in the making.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
lol…. i saw my pics there… muahaha…. Daulat Tuanku? i thiought i heard WOOF WOOF WOOF!!….. =p….
ya… freaking jammed yesterday….. somemore got helicopters…. n a very low flying one as well…. anyway… it’s TIME!!!!! The silence MUST be BROKEN!!!!
I WANTED TO SUPPORT… but my stomach was hungry…. so… cannot get down… =p… juz joking…. haha
November 11th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Datuk Seri Anwar, Hadi Awang, Lim Guan Eng, Sivarasa Rasiah you guys have sacrificed much for all Malaysians. Sticking your necks out for ” keadilan”.
All Malaysians Salute you !!!
I am ashamed of myself for not being able to join u guys !!!! Next time, count me in !!! Lets give this arrogant Barisan Nuts a good thrashing come this elections !!! Time for change…………
November 11th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Do we have excessive police personnel in our country? I tot we have been told there is insufficient police to fight crime, yet the govt had arranged so many police personnel just to block this event from happenning, shear waste of police resources and funds. Outright abuse.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
The time for change was earlier than yesterday but still the 10th of November is a day to be remembered. Lets hope the Bersih March will be the start of a cleansing the gomen really needs. But to cajole it on, the voters must do the right thing at the 12th elections. The time to stand aside as bystanders, non-boat rockers and continue to live as mushrooms and be fed all the shit and sleaze must be a thing of the past.
All those who are eligible to vote but have not registered to do so, please do so. Every vote counts. To register as a voter you only need to go to the post office nearest to you. The time for change was earlier than yesterday.
November 11th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
this incident has shown me that the police force is putting the recent injection of cashflow to brilliant and just usage. Credit should be given to the IGP for effectively reducing the rally numbers.
Now then. The memorandum has been passed to the King.
We have done our part.
It will be interesting to see events unfolding. Will the Govt continue throwing their weight around at the cost of the people? Or will they give in?
*seems like blog activity suddenly shot up!*
November 11th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
gosh…this sounds AWESOME…i didnt know about this……super interesting la………..yes yes yes!! SPEAK UP ALL YE PEOPLE!!
November 11th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Yes, I am sure there will be an uprising call from a lot of concerned citizens, from a generation ranging from young to old, skin-colored from white to black, holding hands together in one voice, thus to believe in a better future for this nation.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Hello……
I am cosily tucked within the compound of my church practicing for the saturday night’ worship when my worship leader chirped about this “walk”.
Being a confused chic, my nose started sniffing for information, first & foremost I am feeling for the concerns of malaysia’s welfare. My initial thought was “O no, its happening in Malaysia, I pray nothing bad will come out of it.”
But, to be honest, it is only “fair and just” this is done. Because the last thing we wanted is empty promises and unhappy nations. Kev, I laugh to your notion of that “injection of cashflow”. When security is an issue in KL, u never see those buggers around. Somemore before election, budget 2008 was all loong say but little function, eh.
Meanwhile, knowing this is whats going on in Malaysia, the freedom to express is taking on its tow. More importantly, the level of awareness for on politics knowledge should not be dismissed anymore. After knowing more, nothing can be ignored.
“What is hidden will be disclosed in the open.”
God bless Malaysia.
November 12th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
hey von.
you should read the daily. yesterday they said the rally consisted of 4k. today
najisnajib said it was 10k.malaysiakini claims somewhere in the 40k region.
i say its somewhere in between the two. why? both kuat tiup angin (chui sui).
dont get me wrong. I’m neither in it for BN nor the opposition. to me both are equally corrupted and screwed.
why?
cuz one can smell a carcass a mile away even though its covered.
November 12th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Yvonne: Yes, you can either read through Malaysia Today or Malaysiakini’s website for more political updates. From here, you will learn more about the uprising matters in the nation.
Kev: Yes yes, we know that you are the fence-sitter. We know that. Even if it is not 40K, at least we all know through the pictures and videos, that it hits more than ten thousands at least.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
hehehe..yeah..definitely hit that figure la…..they thinkg we all blind or something..:P