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Malay Mail
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
The Malaysian Protest Museum
JULY 24 — On June 22, 2013, people descended on Padang Merbok. More than a month after a general election, Pakatan Harapan folks dreamt seven weeks of nationwide protest rallies since May 5 polling day culminated in a city crescendo. Instead, a tepid gathering of thousands in a moderate haze marked the end of the pointless reactionary scream and started the longer slog to 2018, when Pakatan eventually won power. More than 12 years ago those events. Two days away is the 'Turun Anwar' rally. A haze has already descended on the city for this weekend's festivities and media folks ready their goggles to count the turnout between liquid sips. This column recorded in 2013: The last (#Black505) rally was on June 22 at the city's Padang Merbok, next to Parliament. A combination of prolonged rallies with no rallying point and a hefty haze plaguing the city, the mixed attendance somehow ended the resistance. For full disclosure, the columnist was part of the protest organisation. Today, the attention is not on how many are likely to experience breathing difficulties on Saturday but the air of freedom experienced by the country through protests over the last quarter of a century. Changed our tanah air. Reformasi 98 to Bersih, in stages Pleasantville-like Malaysia discovered colour. Malaysians turned away from democracy strictly at the ballot box to expressions on the streets, and that changed how a docile nation turned fashionably louder — not loud enough if I'm asked. Though the misfortune is that these exhibitions about our people have been inadequately safeguarded. They deserve their place in a gallery. Even those pictures of PAS cadres passing bottled water to attendees in Padang Merbok 12 years ago. Incidentally, one of my team members broke his leg on that day. Not evading police but rather on an isolated staircase. Black505 was a badly phrased title for a movement, and probably contributes to why it has steered clear off the population's imagination, though the low visibility and torrid air quality on the fateful day a dozen years ago played a far bigger part. 'Turun Anwar' writes its own history however it turns out this weekend. Regardless, the stories of our relatively new protest culture deserve a central place in the rakyat's imagination. Not in the cold archives of academic libraries but in a museum. The Protest Museum, preferably a stone's throw away from Dataran Merdeka. The fundraising would be a walk in the park. Pick a pamphlet at the lobby First floor, the Batu Arang coal workers' unrests between the Japanese Occupation. Some space for Umno's formation through a collective protest action towards the Malayan Union. It would be crikey to get British radio broadcasts about troubles in the colonies. Before the floor exit, the Hartal of 1948. Opinions are divided but they are our protests and not talking about them will not do. Welcome to the information age! A whole floor for Reformasi 98, and another for the evolution of Bersih. Audios from those who showed up to face the water cannons and tear gas cannisters. Shouts and pandemonium in and around Tung Shin Hospital and the long wait at Tunku Abdul Rahman around the now-disappeared Coliseum. Finally, a museum visit that might actually appeal to younger Malaysians. It aids to contextualise the purpose of protests to the young. The prime minister's team is worried about all protests these days as they are directed at them. Maybe they have it the wrong way around. Movements require a cause to march ahead for, to uphold. A sense of injustice. Currently, the prime minister's opponents lack one. While cost of living and less money always upsets people, it has to be at the extreme end for people to show up on the streets. People protest against rising fuel prices in Kuala Lumpur on September 6, 2013. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng When comparing apples with apples, Anwar Ibrahim has the far more compelling story. Two medium terms in prison and an early start in student activism. Running hard, from George Town to Putrajaya with countless number of setbacks. The crowds love to hear about his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's letters to him in prison. The prime minister should feel tempted to drive down to the city on Saturday and meet the organisers and egg them on. Or even send them tips on how to organise a successful rally. The tenth prime minister is the first one to have a protest background. Which is not a small matter. Our Pms have been prosaic civil servants with technocratic leanings rather than imagining themselves as characters in a Gabriel García Márquez novel. Which is why he should be the patron for Malaysia's Protest Museum. Though there is a warning. Do not sanitise the past, which means also the prime minister's past. Rebellions excite because they are flawed. Rich on ideals, weak on details. The moment the museum is selective about the past and its information, that's when it turns staid. It will be cool to have an inscription at the front entrance. About how these seminal protests have taught Malaysians and driven discussions about civic consciousness far more than 11 years of standard public education's textbooks. And admission should be free — it is state and rakyat funded. They, the patron, eventually pay admission price when they eventually participate in their own protests. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Not their home any more': Rafizi warns PKR risks Umno-style exodus over grassroots anger after party polls
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has reportedly cautioned that rising dissatisfaction among grassroots party members could lead to an exodus that similarly plagued Umno during the 1998 Reformasi movement. Malaysiakini cited him from his podcast Yang Berhenti Menteri suggesting that the discontent stems from the recent PKR party elections, where members questioned the transparency of the process. 'In the madness of grabbing power or positions, don't let it come to making people feel like this is not [their] home any more,' he reportedly said, adding that this will be dangerous to the party. 'When they've moved on, it's not easy to ask them to come back,' he added. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, then Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister was sacked in 1998 by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad — leading to the Reformasi movement and formation of PKR. Meanwhile, Rafizi was recently defeated in the PKR number two post by Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah. He and fellow loser Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad both quit their Cabinet posts, citing the party's loss of trust in them. Since then, he has since one of the biggest critics of Anwar's administration, from issues ranging from the 13th Malaysia Plan to judicial independence. Yesterday, Rafizi led nine PKR MPs to remind the government that the need to strengthen the judicial appointment process continues, despite the finalised top judicial appointments. Rafizi had similar stepped down from politics in 2018 after he was defeated by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to be Anwar's deputy in PKR — before returning to the post and active politics in 2022.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Anwar: Critics of judiciary ignore lessons from Reformasi era
SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has criticised those who he said appear ignorant of the nation's political history when commenting on the judiciary. Anwar, who is also PKR president, said those who lived through the Reformasi era understand that the judiciary must remain the country's main pillar and be free from political interference. He cited the works of renowned cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, better known as Zunar, whose illustrations chronicled the public outrage during that period over corruption, abuse of power and manipulated court decisions. "Sometimes when people talk about the judiciary, I feel some of them act as if they know nothing at all about history — people who were once complicit in all the oppression and injustice of the past, now wanting to speak about freedom. "On the other hand, for us who lived through it, we believe and we are convinced that the key lesson is that the judiciary, which is the main pillar of the country, should be without political interference, because our experience has shown that we must be more mature as such interference leads to the abuse of the innocent. "The same applies to economic management, such as the Scorpene and 1MDB scandal that was illustrated in in the cartoon," he said during the launch of the book "Melukis dengan Hati: Biografi Perjalanan Seni 50 Tahun" by Zunar here today. Anwar said Zunar's work is important not only in terms of uncovering historical chapters, but also serves as a lesson on what Malaysia must learn from and what is to be avoided. "To save the country, there must be a clear separation of powers and shared responsibility. "If we assume that the judiciary is a noble institution, history has shown that it has, at times, been tainted by corruption and abuse of power. "Likewise, the position of the prime minister or finance minister, even if entrusted to someone believed to carry out their duties well, has, in reality, been misused to amass excessive wealth. "And all of this is captured in Zunar's work," he said.
Focus Malaysia
4 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Madani gov't trolled for using KSN to ban civil servants from joining 'Turun Anwar' rally
DETRACTORS have questioned the rationale behind the call for civil servants to stay away from this Saturday's (July 26) PAS-inspired 'Turun Anwar' rally. This is because civil servants must adhere to the pledge enshrined in the Rukun Negara, particularly by upholding the principle of loyalty to king and country, according to Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. 'They cannot attend. Civil servants recite the pledge every day, every week,' justified Shamsul who succeeded Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali on Aug 10 last year. 'Have they forgotten? Be loyal to the king and country,' he said after launching the Association of Former Students of Mara Junior Science Colleges (ANSARA) Sports Carnival 2025 in Putrajaya yesterday (July 20). While Shamsul did not specify if the nature of disciplinary action to be taken on errant civil servants, a majority of commenters to the NST Online Facebook post of Shamsul's message felt that it is unbecoming of the Madani government to even use the KSN as its protective shield. After all, they recounted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had in fact instigated civil servants to take to the streets to protest against injustice inflicted on him, notably his sacking as deputy PM following which the Reformasi movement was born. After all. Saturday is an off day to most civil servants, henceforth it is their right to decide what they wish to do during their spare time so long as their action does not disrupt their workflow. Therefore, Shamsul's directive is deemed as both 'army twisting method and double standard'. As a learned commenter put it, the KSU cannot deny the basic rights and freedom of all citizens as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, namely the right to free speech and the right to assemble and association. '(The) KSU is clearly fear mongering and threatening civil servants,' he attested. As a commenter aptly pointed out, the Madani government has nothing to fear if it is doing a good job 'unless this Madani (government) is so unstable that it feared that the opposition might influence their (civil servants) support towards this government'. Another contended that 'a democracy would not order such a thing but civil servants can be reminded that action can be taken against them if their behaviour during such a rally led to arrest and/or detention'. In fact, a commenter opined that civil servants are duty-bound 'to speak out if the government is harming the country'. The bottom-line as one commenter noted, 'public sector workers will STILL go to work tomorrow if the government falls or a new government comes in'. As 'they work for the country, the King and not a POLITICAL PARTY', he urged PMX 'not to be arrogant but to understand hardship of sorts the rakyst are experiencing from Perlis to Sabah'. – July 21, 2025 Editor's Note: A recent Utusan Malaysia report citing Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth Chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has estimated a turnout of 300,000 (up from 50,000) at the 'Turun Anwar' rally slated to be held at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday (July 26). This is in stark contrast to Kuala Lumpur Acting Police Chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad who previously expected 10,000 to 15,000 people to attend. He nevertheless confirmed that the organisers have informed the Dang Wangi district police headquarters about the rally following which some 2,000 officers and personnel will be deployed to ensure the rally runs smoothly and to safeguard the participants and the public. Main image credit: Utusan Malaysia
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Not their home any more': Rafizi warns PKR risks Umno-style exodus over grassroots anger after party polls
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has reportedly cautioned that rising dissatisfaction among grassroots party members could lead to an exodus that similarly plagued Umno during the 1998 Reformasi movement. Malaysiakini cited him from his podcast Yang Berhenti Menteri suggesting that the discontent stems from the recent PKR party elections, where members questioned the transparency of the process. 'In the madness of grabbing power or positions, don't let it come to making people feel like this is not [their] home any more,' he reportedly said, adding that this will be dangerous to the party. 'When they've moved on, it's not easy to ask them to come back,' he added. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, then Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister was sacked in 1998 by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad — leading to the Reformasi movement and formation of PKR. Meanwhile, Rafizi was recently defeated in the PKR number two post by Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah. He and fellow loser Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad both quit their Cabinet posts, citing the party's loss of trust in them. Since then, he has since one of the biggest critics of Anwar's administration, from issues ranging from the 13th Malaysia Plan to judicial independence. Yesterday, Rafizi led nine PKR MPs to remind the government that the need to strengthen the judicial appointment process continues, despite the finalised top judicial appointments. Rafizi had similar stepped down from politics in 2018 after he was defeated by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to be Anwar's deputy in PKR — before returning to the post and active politics in 2022.
