Resurgence of Communism: Bersih supporters going overboard
Yesterday, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim vilified PSM for their “desperate” move in resorting to exploit the communist ideology to drum up support for the planned July 9 rally. Dr Rais said that “These (PSM’s activisms) are the acts of desperate people who planned the rally on July 9. They see this as an opportunity to stir up dissent and seize power”.
‘PSM Activists Trying to Rekindle Communist Ideology’… ‘PSM ‘Communists’ Waging War on Agong’… ‘Hidupkan Fahaman Komunis Usaha Rampas Kuasa’ (Resurrection of Communism a Government Takeover Attempt)… ‘Muslihat Hidupkan Fahaman Komunis’ (A Ploy to Reawaken Communism)… ‘Cubaan Hidupkan Fahaman Komunis Satu Rancangan Jahat’ (Communist Resurgence Attempt an Evil Plan)…
Above are just some of the hard-hitting headlines spattered across major dailies yesterday. By the sound of it, we could expect to see Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) under heavier police scrutiny for their purported ‘mischief’ within the two weeks leading to the Bersih 2.0 ‘Walk for Democracy’ rally that’s scheduled for July 9. The nationwide crackdown to prohibit the promoting Bersih 2.0 ensued after the election watchdog and the opposition – including PSM – ignored warnings from BN leaders and the Police against the proposed rally.
Government Hunts Down Bersih Promoters
PSM is not the only political party the police have probed on as during the siege over Bersih. So far, out of the 81 reported arrests, eight are members of PKR Youth while seven are PAS members. The largest arrest took place on Saturday when 59 PSM members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj and one minor (who was soon released), were hauled up in Penang and Johor. In Penang, the 30 arrested were investigated under Section 122 of the Penal Code for the charge of waging war against the King while the 28 arrested in Johor were investigated under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.
It is said that the arrested socialists were part of PSM’s ‘Udahlah tu… Bersaralah’ roadshow which calls for people to initiate change in the next general election. The roadshow also promoted the Bersih 2.0 rally. Currently, those arrested in Penang are still being held under remand until July 2.
It is believed that another five PKR members were also arrested on the same evening in Klang. Four of them were wearing Bersih T-shirts. Meanwhile, the seven PAS members were arrested in Ampang after they were found wearing yellow T-shirts with ‘Bersih 2.0’ written in the Malay Jawi script at Taman Kosas. Police accused them for “showing their support for the illegal rally” and disrupting public order while riding on their motorcycles in the area.
Also in the same evening, a PKR member by the name of Mohd Amin was arrested in Gombak for wearing the Bersih t-shirt. Police also called up opposition members to record statements for allegedly promoting an illegal rally in their speeches or activities. They include PAS Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, Negeri Sembilan PKR Youth chief Nazree Yunus, Sepang PKR division chief Borhan Aman Shah and PKR Seri Muda state assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafie. According to reports, the group also released a multilingual online ‘rally guideline’ which contains do’s and don’ts for the rally and instructions for how to react if arrested by the authorities.
Harakahdaily also ran a report on a spate of vandalism of private properties had happened in Perlis which saw cars and walls being spray-painted with the words ‘Bersih 2.0’, ‘Joint Bersih 2.0’ (sic) and ‘Hidup PAS’. Perlis PAS had denied that its supporters were behind the vandalism, describing the acts as “provocations’ which attempted to tarnish the image of Bersih 2.0. A report by Utusan Malaysia also suggested that Bersih 2.0 was sponsored by a foreign Christian movement. The daily had quoted anonymous sources in the report.
Penang deputy police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar have accused the 30 arrested PSM activists detained at Sungai Dua toll plaza on Saturday are using the July 9 illegal rally to rekindle the communist ideology. He said that the activists led by Dr Jeyakumar had distributed flyers deemed to be a threat to national security. He told reporters on Sunday that the socialists “were carrying items inciting the people to hate the government” and that “This is serious and can threaten national security”. Among the items seized from the activists who were travelling from Sungai Petani, Kedah to Penang were items associated with the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) ideology.
“They include flyers and T-shirts with (renowned Malaysian communist figures) Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin and Suriani Abdullah – all connected to MCP – written on them,” said Rahim
Rahim also justified his stern classification used against the group as due to the provocative messages on the PSM flyers. According to reports, the flyers read: “If the people of Arab nations were successful in toppling the autocratic regimes that had ruled for decades, it is not impossible for Malaysians to demand for political changes in our country.” While another said: “We have been suffering enough for the past 54 years under one-party rule. It is time for change.”
“We view these messages seriously as they may pose a threat to national security,” Rahim said at a press conference at the Seberang Perai Utara district police headquarters in Bertam.
Among other items seized from the PSM activists were PSM flags, 600 Bersih 2.0 rally flyers and more than 6,000 copies of the flyers in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil.
Umno Against Communism
Yesterday, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim vilified PSM for their “desperate” move in resorting to exploit the communist ideology to drum up support for the planned July 9 rally. Dr Rais said that “These (PSM’s activisms) are the acts of desperate people who planned the rally on July 9. They see this as an opportunity to stir up dissent and seize power”.
He said that “spreading communism is against the law. It is evil and illegal,” contending that the prohibition against communism is stamped in our laws and the spirit of the constitution, citing 1948 regulations and the Police Act of 1967, which he believed enumerated such restrictions. This comes from one of the most senior ministers who’s known for his wise words in the past.
“As such, it is appropriate for us to take action, this is for the survival of the majority, not about the minority,” he said at the parliament lobby when enquired on the crackdown on socialists and Bersih promoters.
The senior minister also urged the rakyat to use the Parliament and dialogues to resolve issues instead of taking to the streets to demonstrate. Dr Rais said “This (PSM and Bersih 2.0’s activisms) is rampasan kuasa sosial! (social overthrow)” and that BN, which has obtained legitimacy by the majority vote, has the right to act against the troublemakers and it is proper that the police take action.
“Communism is outlawed and not recognized in Malaysia, and this spirit is enshrined in the national struggle, the constitution and democratic practices. It is not only outlawed in Malaysia but also in Singapore, Brunei and other countries. This (revival of communism) should not emerge again,” he told reporters.
Dr Rais, who is a member of the Umno Supreme Council, said the matter should not be toyed with or used as fodder in politics, and stern action should be taken against those involved. The minister called on rational-thinking people to rise and oppose the plot.
Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister and Batu Pahat MP Dr Puad Zarkashi said the government needed to take action on any quarters or political parties found attempting to revive communism.
“This can lead to an overthrow the government and turn the country into a republic,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
He added that the government must also monitor such groups, especially those who try to penetrate into universities to influence the students. Meanwhile, Kulim-Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament Datuk Zulkifli Noordin described the attempt as a strategy of organizers of the July 9 illegal street demonstration to provoke public anger against the police.
Temperature Rising
Temperature continues to rise as the follow up of the Bersih rally in 2007 which saw nearly 40,000 people take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur approaches. More activists and opposition members and leaders are expected to be summoned to make police statements. Yesterday itself, Bersih 2.0 chief S Ambiga and national laureate A Samad Said were questioned by police at the Dang Wangi police station for suspected sedition and unlawful assembly. It was learnt that police have also served notices to lawyers N Surendran and Fadiah Nadwa Fitri – members of Lawyers for Liberty who are acting as counsel for Samad – to give their statements, presumably for similar reasons as Ambiga.
Later that day the media was also informed that PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, Lawyers for Liberty member Latheefa Koya and Subang MP R Sivarasa have also been summoned to give their statements the next day. All six people were present at the Bersih 2.0 launch held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on June 19.
Many are anxious about the alleged communist ‘uprising’ and the upcoming July 9 rally which would see activists from NGOs, the opposition, Perkasa, Umno Youth as well as men and women of the public marching in the streets in what could be the biggest street demonstration the country has ever seen.
