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The Flag Incident: Who Did It?
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Malaysiakini
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Janji Demokrasi rally organiser Maria Chin Abdullah described the questions posed by the police to her and another key leader A Samad Said during today’s interview as “irrelevant”.
“They only asked questions about the press conference held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (on Aug 24),” she said.
She and Samad therefore took the stand of not answering any question, Maria (left) told the media after coming out of the police station.
Police had summoned the duo to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters this afternoon to give their statements in relation to the controversial incidents that took place during the Merdeka eve rally at Dataran Merdeka.
“The questions they want to know about the press conference were: who were there, what was my role during the press conference and what was my role at Dataran Merdeka.
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Samad (centre in photo) said the police notice sent to him yesterday had been cancelled as he was not the rally organiser but simply invited to recite a poem at the event.
“I was summoned based on irrelevant issues. The notice had been withdrawn.
“Several routine questions were asked, but I chose not to answer any of them except those related to my personal information.
“There was no question asked about the poem as far as I can remember,” said the national laureate.
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Janji Demokrasi organiser: Police questions irrelevant
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Malaysiakini
Teen apologises for stepping on PM’s photo
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After about 15 hours in police custody, the teenager who was arrested for stepping on a photograph the prime minister has apologised to the public.
At a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Ong Sing Yee, 19, stressed that she had no intention to commit sedition.
Teen apologises for stepping on PM’s photo
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Malaysiakini
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“Handcuffing someone is an arrest procedure… I think (in her case) it was very mild. If we follow (the procedures strictly), she would be cuffed behind her back.
Cops: Handcuffed girl got it ‘very mild’
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EXPULSION!!!
Malaysiakini
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Private college expels butt-flashing student
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Malaysiakini
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Kuala Lumpur police have summoned two top Pakatan leaders in relation to the ‘Janji Demokrasi’ rally on Merdeka eve night.
The two are PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and PKR vice-president Tian Chua…
“If they don’t appear on Sept 7, the police will apply for an arrest warrant (for them) from the court,” Kuala Lumpur deputy CID chief Aziz Zakaria was quoted saying in Sinchew Daily today.
Cops summon Pakatan leaders over ‘Janji Demokrasi’
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Malaysiakini
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National laureate A Samad Said has been summoned by the police for questioning over the Janji Demokrasi gathering on the eve of Merdeka Day.
Samad told Malaysiakini that he had received the notice today which instructed him to be present at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 6pm to have his statements recorded.
He said that the notice said that he would be investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“The notice came at 4pm and they wanted me to show up at 6pm. To me, there is no need to abuse me. You shouldn’t give me the notice today and expect me to show up immediately.
“Show some respect for the elderly,” said Samad, adding that he had negotiated to be present the following day.
He said he was unable to show up as requested because he had to attend a Bersih 2.0 meeting this evening.
Asked to speculate on why he was wanted by the police, Samad said it was likely due to his poetry recital during the Merdeka Day eve event.
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Janji Demokrasi: Cops to quiz Pak Samad
See also Malaysian Insider
Cops haul up Pak Samad over Janji Demokrasi rally
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Free Malaysia Today
‘Let there be no selective prosecution’
The Bar Council wants the police to probe all cases of desecrating pictures of public figures, including the burning of pictures of Lim Guan Eng and S Ambiga.
PETALING JAYA: Probe all cases involving desecrating pictures of public figures, including the act of burning pictures of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga, said Bar Council today.
“There should not be selective prosecution,” said its president Lim Chee Wee.
He said this following the arrest of a 19-year-old youth yesterday, who was alleged to have flashed his buttocks at the pictures of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, during last Thursday’s Merdeka celebration at Dataran Merdeka.
The youth was released last night on bail after the police recorded his statement.
‘Let there be no selective prosecution’
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Malaysiakini
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A criminal lawyer has called on the police not to be selective in investigating cases involving indecent acts being allegedly done to pictures of political leaders.
Referring to the arrest of a student for flashing his bare butt at pictures of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his spouse during the Merdeka Eve celebrations last week, Baljit Singh Sidhu asked why other similar acts went unpunished.
“Why no action?” Baljit (right) asked, referring to the picture of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng stepped on by demonstrators and when a group of army veterans exercised their buttocks in front of Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga’s house.
He said that while he saw no “impartiality” in the action of the police, he felt that if the case went to court, lawyers would question the apparent “preferential treatment” for the Najib case.
It was clear to him that police did not take action in the case of Lim and Ambiga.
“I hope there is no selective investigation in this matter,” Baljit told Malaysiakini today.
Lawyer: Don’t be selective in probe on butt flasher
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Sundaily
Model surrenders to police over merdeka eve incident
JOHOR BAHARU (Sept 5, 2012): A 19-year-old freelance model surrendered to the police here today to help in the investigation into the incident where several participants of a Merdeka Eve gathering in Kuala Lumpur stepped on photographs of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
The girl, from Taman Puteri Wangsa here, surrendered herself at the central police station at about 11 am. She was accompanied by lawyer Norman Fernandez and several friends. She was brought out of the police station handcuffed at about 1 pm and taken in a car to Kuala Lumpur.
Model surrenders to police over merdeka eve incident
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Malaysiakini
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A 19-year-old from Johor Bahru has turned herself in to police in relation to alleged controversial incidents during the Janji Demokrasi rally on the eve of Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
She is one of the 11 individuals being sought by the police to provide statements.
Accompanied by Johor DAP leaders, including Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa (left) and deputy state chief Norman Fernandez, she went to Johor Bahru Central police station this morning.
The teenager, whose name is being withheld as she is a minor, was later detained and handcuffed by the police.
She will be escorted to Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur which is investigating the incidents.
According to Fernandez, who is also her lawyer, she has been detained under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
She is alleged to have stepped on photographs of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife during the rally.
Norman (right) told Malaysiakini that the teenager had explained to the police that she had gone to Dataran Merdeka with a group of friends from Johor Bahru, for the countdown to Merdeka Day.
Merdeka eve incidents: Teenager turns herself in
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Sundaily
College student in lewd gesture allegation on police bail
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5, 2012): A college student who was detained by the police for allegedly committing a lewd gesture at a picture of the prime minister during the Janji Demokrasi gathering on Merdeka eve, has been released.
Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said today, the 19-year-old who studies at a private college in Cheras, was released on police bail last night after a statement was recorded.
During the incident, the teenager had allegedly pulled down his pants and showed his buttocks at the picture.
College student in lewd gesture allegation on police bail
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Malaysiakini
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No charge has yet been brought against the college student arrested by police yesterday for allegedly flashing his bare butt over pictures of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife during the Merdeka Eve celebrations.
“Whether or not he will be charged will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigations, on the evidence gathered and the laws concerned,” Kuala Lumpur CID chief Ku Chin Wah told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Ku said the suspect, aged 19, was arrested yesterday and was released on bail late last night after having his statement recorded.
The third-year student from Batu Pahat, Johor, was arrested at noon yesterday at a college in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, after police identified him based on statements from witnesses who came forward.
Cops: No charges yet against student who flashed butt
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The People’s Progressive Party want their pound of flesh.
Remember this party that LOST ALL SEATS contested in the 2008 General Elections?
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Federal Territory chief A Chandra Kumanan, “We want the police to take action against them and let it be a lesson for others in the future.”
Free Malaysia Today
‘Act against Janji Demokrasi trouble-makers’
Their acts can spark a fight ending up with a riot, says PPP.
KUALA LUMPUR: The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wants the police to act against several trouble-makers at the Janji Demokrasi gathering on Aug 30, at Dataran Merdeka here.
PPP Federal Territory chief A Chandra Kumanan said the police should locate the trouble-makers who did several things in an effort to mar the National Day celebration slated the next day.
Accompanied by some 30 PPP members, Chandra Kumanan lodged a police report on the matter at the Sentul police station, wanting stern action against the perpetrators of “uncivilised” acts during the gathering.
He highlighted three major incidents during the gathering. He claimed that Janji Demokrasi supporters carried a flag similar to a Singapore flag (Sang Saka Malaya) in an effort to change the Jalur Gemilang in the future.
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“The other two incidents are where a poster of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor are being stomped on. The third is barring their butts to the posters.
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Chandra Kumanan said national laureate A Samad Said, who is also Bersih co-chairman, and Maria Chin, both organisers of the Janji Demokrasi gathering, should be fully responsible over the incidents.
Chandra Kumanan also pointed out that most of those who participated in the Janji Demokrasi gathering were opposition party members and Bersih sympathisers.
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‘Act against Janji Demokrasi trouble-makers’
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Malaysiakini
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1:37PM Sep 4, 2012 |
A college student has been arrested over the antics of some participants at the countdown event at Dataran Merdeka on Merdeka Day eve.
It is understood that the student is being accused of pointing his bare buttocks at a photographs of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.
The 19-year-old male student was arrested at a college in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur at noon.
Student nabbed over mooning incident
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Sundaily
First alleged offender at Merdeka eve rally nabbed
Last updated on 4 September 2012 – 01:20pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 4, 2012): Police who are on a hunt for those who allegedly committed offensive acts at a rally on the eve of Merdeka Day, made their first arrest of a 19-year old youth today.
The information technology student who hails from Batu Pahat, Johor, is alleged to have mooned at photos of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at the rally.
He was picked up by a federal police team at his college in Taman Maluri, Cheras and taken to the Dang Wangi police headquarters for further investigations.
First alleged offender at Merdeka eve rally nabbed
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Malaysiakini
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5:32PM Sep 3, 2012 |
DAP says it strongly condemns and disapproves the act of several individuals who stepped on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s picture during the Merdeka eve celebration.
However, its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng asks, why the BN did not act against the Perkasa members who burnt and stepped on his pictures outside his office.
Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said the BN was practising selective prosecution and double standards by intending to take action only against those who stepped on Najib’s picture.
He wants Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to give an assurance that his ministry would act decisively and expedite the legal process against the BN perpetrators of similar provocative acts on Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
“To date, there is no court action taken against the BN political desperadoes who showed disrespect to portraits of PR leaders.
“Clearly, BN practises selective prosecution, double standards and even outright racism by not expressing the same indignation and demands for stern action against extremist Perkasa members who burnt or stepped on my portrait outside my Komtar office.
“They even performed funeral rites with my portrait outside my house. Why was there no action taken against those who behaved in a similar manner against Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan outside her home?” Lim asked.
He said that while non-Malay BN component party ministers were demanding action after the prime minister’s picture was stepped on, there was no comment when this was done to a Chinese chief minister’s picture.
Lim was commenting on several people who stomped on Najib’s picture’s on Merdeka eve and the flying of the Sang Saka Malaya flag.
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4:24PM Sep 2, 2012 |
The police are also on the lookout for individuals who stepped on photographs of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor at the same event.
The police this act was being investigated under Section 290 of the Penal Code for committing a public nuisance and Section 504 of the same law for causing an intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
Eyewitnesses urged to act
They have urged eyewitnesses to contact the Bukit Aman media centre if they have information to provide.
CM: So, how about Perkasa burning my photo?
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PKR vice-president N Surendren, “This probe is clearly politically motivated and in breach of the rakyat’s basic rights under Article 10 of the federal constitution.”
Latest!
Malaysia Chronicle
Friday, 31 August 2012 18:45
STOP harassing Pak Samad & Janji Demokrasi for Merdeka eve gathering – Surendran tells Najib
Written by N Surendran
I refer to the announcement by police that National laureate A Samad Said will be investigated for reading poetry near Dataran Merdeka on merdeka eve last night.The police decision to commence criminal proceedings against our national laureate is arbitrary, unconstitutional and a gross abuse of police powers.
In reading poetry in a public place, Samad Said was exercising his fundamental rights of freedom of speech and assembly under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
It is clear that Samad Said who is also Bersih co-chairperson is being targeted because of his consistent public criticism of the ruling UMNO-BN political coalition. Once again, UMNO-BN is using the police force as an instrument to suppress political dissent and intimidate civil society and the opposition.
It is shocking that for narrow political reasons, Najib and his government are prepared to harass and persecute Samad Said, who is an icon of Malay literature and a towering Malaysian.
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STOP harassing Pak Samad & Janji Demokrasi for Merdeka eve gathering – Surendran tells Najib
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Malaysiakini
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Police are investigating the organisers of the Janji Demokrasi rally at the Dataran Merdeka area in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that attracted about 10,000 people.
Confirming this, Kuala Lumpur criminal investigations department chief Ku Chin Wah said the probe is under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“We will continue to investigate them under the Act,” he said in a text message to Malaysiakini.
Last night, Dang Wangi OCPD Zainuddin Ahmad said police would “investigate later” if Bersih’s co-chairperson A Samad Said had broken the law by reciting a poem.
Samad (centre in photo), a national laureate, recited his poem ‘Janji Demokrasi’ last night at the square outside the Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters less than 500 metres from Dataran Merdeka.
No mass arrests
Despite declaring the rally illegal at the last minute, mass arrests did not take place on the thousands who thronged the area in yellow shirts on the eve of National Day.
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Pak Samad probe ‘arbitrary’
Meanwhile in an immediate reaction, PKR vice-president N Surendren called upon Prime Minister Najib Razak to drop all criminal investigations against Samad and the organisers of the Janji Demokrasi peaceful rally.
“The police decision to commence criminal proceedings against our national laureate is arbitrary, unconstitutional and a gross abuse of police powers.
“In reading poetry in a public place, Samad Said was exercising his fundamental rights of freedom of speech and assembly under Article 10 of the federal constitution,” he said.
The PKR veep alleged that Samad was targeted because of his consistent public criticism of the ruling coalition, and said the police force was being used to suppress political dissent and intimidate civil society.
“This probe is clearly politically motivated and in breach of the rakyat’s basic rights under Article 10 of the federal constitution,” said the lawyer.
Police probing ‘Janji Demokrasi’ organisers
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Free Malaysia Today
Merdeka Eve celebration smooth
However, police may take action against national laureate A Samad Said over his poetry reading.
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Deputy KL Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Khairi Ahrasa said that the police will look into national laureate A Samad Said’s poetry reading earlier last night.
He said that action can be taken against Samad under the Peaceful Assembly Act.
Merdeka Eve celebration smooth
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WILL THE POLICE ARREST ANY OF THE LEADERS OF JANJI DEMOKRASI?
The Police had declared Janji Demokrasi ILLEGAL.
LATEST: POLICE DECLARE JANJI DEMOKRASI ILLEGAL!
Yet the organizers had gone ahead.
AFTER THE MERDEKA COUNTDOWN
Dang Wangi district police chief Zainuddin Ahmad said when asked about the yellow shirts, “We’ll investigate later….”
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On Merdeka Eve
Gabungan Janji, a coalition of 47 NGOs, has converged at the northern-most point of Dataran Merdeka in yellow to remind the BN government to fullfil its promises of electoral reform.
They lead a multi-ethnic crowd of thousands in yellow shirts, estimated at 10,000, and these have assembled near the northern-most police cordon and are trumpeting away on their vuvuzelas.
Malaysiakini photo
Dressed in yellow, they are led by Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson A Samad Said and Bersih secretariat member Maria Chin Abdullah, who lead them away from Dataran Merdeka to an open area south adjacent to Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters.
A Samad Said, national laureate, recites a poem.
(Published on Aug 30, 2012 by iscandarz)
Malam amatlah indah walaupun kalbu masih terdera,
kita terpaksa menyambut senyum demokrasi yang lara.
Dataran Merdeka tak lagi dipupuk gah sejarahnya
kerana tak digalak ia untuk lebih bersejarah.
Kini di mana-mana sajalah Dataran Suara kita!
Angin sejarah yang tulen kini makin berhembus kencang
mencanda panji negara yang berkibar girang dan garang;
dan seragam gelombang kuning — diri kita yang sejati —
menghimpun azam dan tekad untuk tulus damai berbakti,
menjeritkan: Janji Demokrasi, ya, Janji Demokrasi!
Kita mulai dihindar untuk mengalir ke Dataran;
di mana sajalah kini kita rai kemerdekaan.
Kita enggan menjadi wira ciplakan di dalam mimpi.
Kita laungkan jerit senyaringnya: “Janji Demokrasi!”
sehinggalah janji itu turut menjeritnya sendiri!
Pak Samad
28 Ogos 2012
Midnight
The yellow shirts sing ‘Negaraku’ at the stroke of midnight. Some leave to enjoy the fireworks while others are dispersing in a cheerful mood.
12.20am
A Samad Said declares the Janji Demokrasi gathering a success but is unable to estimate a crowd figure.
Despite ban, yellow shirts swamp Dataran
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