A concerned rakyat turned civilian reporter, Pamela Lim reports on last Sunday’s Anti-ISA candlelight vigil that was quashed by police. She documents in writing and video the excessive use of force by the police against a peaceful and orderly gathering of the rakyat. 29 people were arrested under another oppressive law for demonstrating against a draconion law.

civilian manhandled police

At 8.00 p.m. on August 1, a group of about 200 people walked towards the field opposite Amcorp Mal. The moment the first person set foot on the pavement of the fiel, they were met with the police. The police shouted “Ini adalah pehimpunan tidak sah” and refused to hear the organisers explanation that all they intend to do hold a candle up for the people who were still detained without trial, a sign of solidarity and peace but a symbolic call for the 50 yeard old act to be repealed. After several exchanges the FRU blockcade charged foward and the group that consisted of many young Malaysians was forced to fall back into the carpark.

They started singing the national anthem, Negaraku followed by chants of “Hidup rakyat! Hidup rakyat! Mansuh ISA! Mansuh ISA!” (Long live the citizens! Abolish ISA!). Before long, the sound reverberated across the carpark as shouts, yells followed by screams were heard when the police and FRU surrounded the young people and swarmed them into the mall.

Anti-ISA Candlelight Vigil Arrest in KL from Goodness Gracious on Vimeo.

It was like a scene out of a mob movie – flashing lights, yellow reflector police vests, Black Marias, helmeted, shielded and bulletproof vested FRU personnel that lined-up to create a blockade before we even stepped onto the grass of the padang! Combine that with the sporadic civilians made up of shoppers, curious-onlookers and a multitude of photographers and journalists running up and down to catch headlines that would never be made public.

One by one, the police arrested people, some they beat up. The ratio of police to the civilian arrested was at least 5:1. There was a scene where 20 police mugged(pictured above) a demonstrator who was unarmed nor unruly. The cries got louder inside when the shutters came down to hole them in. The flock of the force had gone into the mall. The stall operators at the entrance were scurrying to close up as the remaining police started to form a human barricade along the entire entrance of the mall. Each time someone was manhandled by the uniformed personnel, dragged out by their shirts and whatever else they could hold onto, onlookers would yell, “Hold your head up! You are doing it for the country! We are proud of you!” Echoed by, “Yeah!” from others.

FRU blockade
The FRU blockade that greeted the peaceful gathering
FRU charging into the gathering and forcing them inside the mall.
FRU charging into the gathering and forcing them inside the mall.
civilians forced into the mall by rampage of FRU blockade
Those trapped in the mall were threatened with arrest if they walked out with candles lit.

Civilians were holding up little cameras, Berries and Apples to film the fiasco, which was quite unnecessary if they had left them at the field to do what they came to do in peace. The next scene was like a director of the movie calling for retake because there was complete silence. Suddenly the uniformed force rushed out. They were told by their leader to form lines – a blockade that extended to the middle of the carpark. Anyone who as much as squealed or chanted was forcefully dragged away.

The police seemed to favour the brave ones whom they deem as instigators to the demonstration. They engaged in warfare tactics against the rakyat – taking out the leader to cause others to submit or go into disarray. In the midst of the chaos that ensued the final showdown, they sang the national anthem, Negaraku while the police were yelling, “Tangkap dia! Tangkap dia!” each time the group inched forward out of the mall to the field. Just as anyone lit a candle, they were grabbed – women too were not spared.

Candlelight Vigil Turned Ugly from Goodness Gracious on Vimeo.

The final scuffle was when they arrested their 25th civilian. The whole force then retreated to the opposite side of the road near the field. In their effort to disperse the vigil-ers who began singing Negaraku again, they used such disproportionate force and every right minded person who witnessed the tyranny against a peaceful congregation of the rakyat – many of whom were young Malaysians who want nothing more than a just Malaysia.

Under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression and all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms. If the powers that be had the foresight to engage and listen to what the citizens want for their future, they would not need to demonstrate (a peaceful candlelight vigil in this case) nor have their request fall on deaf ears in muted leaders. It is not even a question about which political party had organised this effort as the citizens of Malaysia are not blind nor are they deaf to the plight of their fellow citizens and their own country.

Police Giving Statement to Press re Arrest of Anti-ISA from Goodness Gracious on Vimeo. Contrast with the Star’s report here.

When something is not right, a law is unjust, the people take it to the top. But when the top appears to not even respect the rule of law and subject needless aggression on civilians, then you will see the people becoming less inclined to want to subscribe to a law that causes that disorder.

The Rakyat’s consciences cannot and should not be overruled by the Government.

I became convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. No other person has been more eloquent and passionate in getting this idea across than Henry David Thoreau. As a result of his writings and personal witness, we are the heirs of a legacy of creative protest. The teachings of Thoreau came alive in our civil rights movement; indeed, they are more alive than ever before. Whether expressed in a sit-in at lunch counters, a freedom ride into Mississippi, a peaceful protest in Albany, Georgia, a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, these are outgrowths of Thoreau’s insistence that evil must be resisted and that no moral man can patiently adjust to injustice.

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

See Also:
Related Links: [last updated on 5 August 2010]

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19 replies on “Brute Force In The Company of Draconian Laws”

  1. I would kinda support what TOKZ has suggested.

    Well, a good place to start what TOKZ has preach or sermon, is at a Pondok Polis along Jalan Tun Razak. You know that one opposite KLCC. If you dunno, ask the nearest balai near your home. Nearly every month, you can shoot somebody there. First casualty would be either KJ or Ibrahim Ali.

    TOKZ, you are the man!! Ibrahim Ali's creator would like to meet him ASAP lah… and… with virgins too.

  2. "Someone told me I’m getting very NOTORIOUSLY FAMOUS in the BLOGOSPHERE. Is this TRUE??"

    Ya TOKZ @ Jerry Chin & MCA Member or whoever joker you claimed to be. i guessed it is probably true that you are 'NOTORIOUSLY FAMOUS'. For being an idiotic cretin, that is.

  3. Deer Dance – SOAD

    Circumventing circuses

    lamenting in protest

    to visible police

    presence sponsored fear

    batallions of riot police

    with rubber bullet kisses

    baton courtesy

    service with a smile

    Beyond the staples center you can see America(Malaysia)

    with it's tired poor avenging disgrace

    peaceful loving youth against the brutality

    of plastic existence

    pushing little children

    with their fully automatics

    they like to push the weak around

    pushing little children

    with their fully automatics

    they like to push the weak around

    A rush of words

    pleading to disperse

    upon your naked walls, alive

    A political call

    the fall guy accord

    we can't afford to be neutral on a moving train

    Beyond the staples center you can see America

    with it's tired poor avenging disgrace

    peaceful loving youth against the brutality

    of plastic existence

    pushing little children

    with their fully automatics

    they like to push the weak around

    pushing little children

    with their fully automatics

    they like to push the weak around

    push them around

    A deer dance, invitation to peace

    war staring you in the face, dressed in black

    with a helmet, fierce

    trained and appropriate for the malcontents

    for the disproportioned malcontents.

    The little boy smiled, it'll all be well until

    The little boy smiled, and it'll all be well

    Pushing little children

    with their fully automatics

    they like to push the weak around

    Pushing little children

    with their fully automatics

    they like to push the weak around

    Pushing little children

    with their fully automatics

    they like to push the weak around

    Push the weak around

    Push the weak around

    Push the weak around

    They like to push the weak around.

  4. Too late, "Jerry Chin" "TOKZ" "MCA Member"

    These pictures are all over the Internet and going all over the world! It reveals the Malaysian police state in all its brutality.

    You have not heard of the slogan "The Whole World is Watching!"?

    You win in the battle for public opinion by coopting political opponents and allowing peaceful demonstrations to proceed, not by brutalising and beating people up.

  5. i agreed with how TOKZ distinguish the meaning between peaceful and non-peaceful gathering but the question that begs for an answer is who has caused the initial peaceful gathering to turn into a non-peaceful one?

    if there appear to be a causal element that influence the peaceful demonstrator to act the way which fall within the conduct of what amounts to non-peaceful gathering action, then I find it's rather prejudicial and unfair to deemed them as outrightly non-peaceful gatherers.

    a paragraph i glean from above writing,

    " After several exchanges the FRU blockcade charged foward and the group that consisted of many young Malaysians was forced to fall back into the carpark.

    They started singing the national anthem, Negaraku followed by chants of “Hidup rakyat! Hidup rakyat! Mansuh ISA! Mansuh ISA!” (Long live the citizens! Abolish ISA!). Before long, the sound reverberated across the carpark as shouts, yells followed by screams were heard when the police and FRU surrounded the young people and swarmed them into the mall "

    i doubt business in Amcorp mall would be gravely affected if the peaceful gathering was allowed to take place at the carpark in the first place and by "swarming" the peaceful demonstrator into the mall would only aggravate the situation and also would unnecessarily involve innocent parties into a tussle which is not theirs to face.

    let say if the police were not hostile towards the demonstrator will it ever turn into a non-peaceful gathering?

    i can prove to you irregards whether it's a rally or mere standstill gathering, a peaceful demonstration can always take place if the police do not exhibit coercion and hostility towards the participants. Just take the UMNO's rally that happened in Penang subsequent to 2008 GE election, it went on smoothly despite police presence and road blockage. Remember the amount of participants in the UMNO rally was much bigger and more aggressive than those who attend candle light vigil at Amcorp Mall recently. Yet UMNO's rally deemed peaceful…

  6. Hi "shar101",

    You wrote "TOKZ and Jerry Chin are actualy the same person with one pretending to support the other"

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

    I think you still suffering from the HALLUCINATION effect after getting BASHED-UP by the Police by during the recent PERHIMPUNAN HARAM.

    Do you want me to recommend you to a RELIABLE DOCTOR??? I hope you won't DECLINE my offer. Otherwise, you might end up SCREWING your DOG thinking it's your WIFE or GIRLFRIEND (or vice-versa).

    Take Care & Get Well Soon!!!

  7. Folks,

    TOKZ and Jerry Chin are actualy the same person with one pretending to support the other.

    These same messages are peppered all over several blogs and he changes his 'nick' (e.g. MCA member) as he trolls.

    Heck, he may not even be 'chinese' but an UMNO Baru cybertrooper out to create mischief.

    Watch the following video showing pro-ISA goons misbehaving themselves in Penang. Perhaps, TOKZ/Jerry Chin was referring to them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1T6eJDkwSo&fe

  8. Ambil lilin jerit tak TENTU,

    Macam mana Malaysia boleh MAJU?,

    Pergi buat protest kat sini dan SITU,

    Memang otak bodoh macam si KUTU.

    Banyak senang tak tahu buat APA,

    Pergi join protest kat SANA,

    Akhirnya diri yang teruk KENA,

    Syiok saya tengok gelak KETAWA.

    Otak bodoh umpama seekor BABI,

    Buat bodoh nyawa sendiri tak HARGAI,

    Polis tahan orang bodoh naik LORI,

    Lebih baik orang bodoh pi bunuh DIRI.

  9. Very well asked "RAVIN P"!!! Kindly allow me to ENLIGHTEN you, ok???

    There's saying which goes "A SMART PERSON LEARNS FROM EXPERIENCES"

    Well, it's those ILLEGAL GATHERINGS & DEMONSTRATIONS of which had FREQUENTLY took place that resulted the POLICE & FRU to be a lot SMARTER especially in how to tackle such tricky situations these days. This include the "COW HEAD" saga.

    That's why the POLICE & FRU no longer NEGOTIATE but move straight into action come any ILLEGAL GATHERINGS. I assumed the POLICE & FRU had tried all ways to be SENSIBLE by knocking SENSE into ILLEGAL PROTESTERS' brains but sadly these PROTESTERS just "DON'T LEARN". Whether these PROTESTERS are "KURANG AJAR" or "TAK TAHU BELAJAR", you decide.

    Thus, the BEST WAY for the POLICE & FRU to tackle such events these days would be to "TERUS TANGKAP BALIK BALAI SAHAJA". Somehow I still DON'T think this way would SOLVE the problem of the CONSTANT PERHIMPUNAN HARAM we MALAYSIANS have around us.

    Personally I think the BEST way to put a COMPLETE STOP to all these NUISANCE ILLEGAL GATHERINGS will be for the POLICE & FRU to have the RIGHTS to SHOOT DOWN the ILLEGAL PROTESTERS. Perhaps by using such a way, these MORONIC PROTESTERS will finally be SCARED & thus START learning.

    Melayu cakap "TAK AJAR, TAK TAKUT". Ravin, do you now understand???

    Thank me later, ok???

  10. TRUE in some way, Mr. or Mrs. TOKZ.

    I dreaded the Police actions earlier but upon reading what you had wrote, it does make some sense after all.

  11. Hi all,

    I hope my following COMMENT will help ENLIGHTEN many CLOUDED thoughts:

    1)'Peaceful' or 'Non-peaceful' gatherings, POLICE PERMIT is a MUST to obtain. This is the LAW & ORDER regardless.

    2) If the CANDLELIGHT VIGILS organizers & participations claimed it's indeed a PEACEFUL GATHERING, then, the ones who got arrested OUGHT to cooperate with the Police when being ARRESTED. Those who were ARRESTED should NOT have RESISTED or RETALIATE their respective ARREST. They should instead follow the Police back to 'BALAI' & sort out their MISUNDERSTANDINGS in the Police Station instead. Let's be CIVILIZED on this, ok???

    3) RESISTING & RETALIATING police arrest WILL only cause further TENSION & unnecessary PROBLEMS of which had proven TRUE during last Sunday.

    4) PEACEFUL GATHERING means "NO SHOUTING". Noise pollution is regarded as "NON-PEACEFUL" becos' it DISTURBS others. Thus, the claimed of PEACEFUL GATHERING last Sunday is indeed NOT a peaceful one after all. It's just a mere EXCUSE, you know???

    5) The recent PJ CANDLELIGHT VIGIL was held at the WRONG VENUE (Amcorp Mall). The IRRESPONSIBLE actions of these so-called PRIMITIVE BARBARIANS (referring to the organizers & participants) had caused UNNECESSARY problems, hardship & traffic woes to INNOCENT shoppers who happened to be around that vicinity.

    6) Business operations in Amcorp Mall was BADLY DISTURBED. Businesses was affected & how could anyone consider it a PEACEFUL GATHERING when Business Owners in the Mall were left to suffer??? I see the actions, claims & reasons given by the ANTI-ISA GATHERINGS as "SELFISH" & "THREATENING to PUBLIC SECURITY".

    7) The Police & FRU should NOT be BLAMED as they are only carrying out their duties. If those who are OUGHT to be arrested RESIST arrest, then, FORCE had to be used to CAPTURE them. There's a saying which goes "If a DOG doesn't OBEY, then the MASTER gotta use FORCE", correct???

    8) Whether ISA should be abolished or not, we ought to leave this matter to LAW MAKERS. 'The rakyat' should NOT try to act SMART by doing things their own way. This will only result 'the rakyat' to look like DONKEYS trying to emulate MONKEYS. Moreover, such so-called "PERHIMPUNAN HARAM" does NOT bring any CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGES but only problems & humiliations to all parties.

    9) Lastly, the Police & FRU should be given MORE AUTHORITY to tackle these frequent on-going ILLEGAL GATHERINGS. Such events bring NEGATIVE PERCEPTION to our country & our next generation. Moreover, any INNOCENT people who have NO INTEREST in such events will also suffer too. I reckon the GOVT. to give more AUTHORITY to the Police & FRU so that they are entitled to "SHOOT ON SIGHT" at any participants of these ILLEGAL GATHERINGS. FORCE gotta be used to teach the STUBBORN & IGNORANT ones!!!

    I hope what took place last Sunday will be the LAST UNFORTUNATE event of such. MALAYSIA doesn't need INSANE BARBARIANS gathering & screaming in the public holding stupid CANDLES as if there's no such thing called "Electricity" while marching to TIMBUKTU. Time should be BETTER SPENT doing more beneficial things, right???

    The ANTI-ISA organizers & participants had brought GREAT SHAME to the country. It's very SAD to witness this. "GROW UP, MALAYSIANS!!!"

  12. Hi there “shar101”!!!

    Thanks for your LINKS but I’ve watched that VIDEO several times. Thus, kindly allow me to point out my ENLIGHTENMENT to you, ok????

    Can you spot the VAST difference between how WELL MANNERED the “PRO-ISA protesters” spoke to the Police? & how ARROGANT the “ANTI-ISA protesters” spoke to the Police? I’m referring to that SPECKY NERD in RED SHIRT who were later ARRESTED.

    Anti-ISA protesters are a bunch of RUDE WANKERS. If only the RED SHIRT SPECKY NERD would have adopted some BASIC MANNERS when speaking to the authorities, perhaps he will be given a chance instead of getting ARRESTED.

    What I find very HUMOROUS here is that the RED SHIRT SPECKY NERD spoke like some CINA-BENG HERO when there people around him but when he was CAUGHT & left alone by the POLICE, do you know what happened???

    A prominent BLOGGER called “ZORRO” told me the SPECKY NERD “PEED” in his pants. Hahahahahahahaha!!! ZORRO managed to snap a pix of him WETTING his pants as EVIDENCE. Pls. click the below link to view the EVIDENCE pix:

    http://malaysiakini.com/v6/link.php?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Zorro-unmasked/~3/jKNtb1IvW0k/they-shamed-usus-who-arewere-in.html

    ZORRO said the Police was kind enough to give him a new BLACK SHIRT to wear & a pair of NEW JEANS but yet the SPECKY NERD still continue to WET his pants.

    Perhaps, we call this UNSTOPPABLE FEAR SYNDROME.

    Now, you get it “shar101”???

  13. Hey Ravin P, what’s your problem? You are asking me to open my eyes? It’s you who should be opening your eyes, bro!

    Open your brains too becos’ it’s too narrow to understand sense & facts. Do you know you are allowing emotions to take control over your brains & that’s why you thought illegal demonstration is a noble thing to participate in.

    I once think like you but upon reflecting what Mr/Mrs TOKZ wrote….I think I found Enlightenment.

  14. So Mr Tokz where were the police and FRU when the the protesters were parading a cows head and shouting racial epithets. Care to explain?

    And something for you to think about it’s called cause and effect.

    @ Jerry Chin and NO his writings do not make any sense at all. Open your eyes mate.

Comments are closed.