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The OCPD is paid by the public to spend his time more usefully doing his public duty chasing after criminals and thieves instead of wasting his time chasing after DAP leaders, pro-democracy balloons and leaflets Speech - During The Emergency Meeting Of The DAP National Local Government Elections Committee by Lim Guan Eng (Petaling Jaya, Friday): Forty years to the day, Malaysians lost their democratic right to elect their local councilors. On the 40th anniversary of the indefinite suspension of local government elections, DAP launched our national campaign to “Restore The 3rd Vote” and return power to the people. DAP’s efforts to restore grassroots democracy had an explosive start when the official launch at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur was brutally and ruthlessly broken up by the police. DAP’s events have always been disciplined and orderly with no destruction of public property. Under no provocation whatsoever, 6 of our leaders and members were arrested under section 27(5) of the Police Act namely:-
The six arrested were courageously putting their freedom on the line for democratic freedoms of all Malaysians. The six deserve to be accorded recognition as heroes for democracy. DAP leaders and members should be inspired by their example by not being cowed nor submit to such oppressive tactics by the police and be more determined to press on with this national campaign to restore local government elections. All leaders and members are encouraged to be present to give moral support when they report to the Jalan Tun H.S Lee police station on 21 March 2005 whether they will be charged in court. On 4 March 2005, the harassment by police continued for the second time led personally by the Dang Wangi OCPD Kamal Basha bin Jamal during our campaign in the Bukit Bintang market. Even though no arrests were made, there were harsh threats of arrests. Kamal should remember that he is paid by the public to spend his time more usefully doing his public duty chasing after criminals and thieves instead of wasting his time chasing after DAP leaders, pro-democracy balloons and leaflets. The nervousness of the authorities at this national campaign can be seen by the ridiculous sight of policemen running after balloons, which were the centre-piece of our national launch. Not only were DAP leaders not allowed to release balloons to mark our struggle for democracy, but the balloons remained under custody at the police-station. It is absurd that policemen think their time is better spent chasing after balloons than thieves. Such arbitrary and high-handed action by the police only reminds us how little democratic space Malaysians enjoy. Another sign of nervousness is the position taken by MCA President Ong Ka Ting when DAP leaders submitted a memorandum to restore local government elections on 26 January 2005 in his capacity as Minister of Housing and Local Government. Ong stated that only one man can decide on the matter and that his stand is neither to support nor oppose. One has to be either pro-democracy or anti-democracy. One can not be neutral. The people can decide whether this incredible indifference is the consequence of MCA’s life-long learning experience. The intense sensitivity by the police demonstrates their inability to handle and react to DAP’s demands for democracy, a non-racial, non-religious and non-partisan initiative that has gathered support even from UMNO MPs such as Member of Parliament for Kota Baharu Mohamed Zaid Ibrahim. Forty years is a long time to correct a wrong but DAP believes that the time has come for the people to take a stand for democracy. (4/3/2005) * Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General |