There were exhibition, speeches, music, and sales of anti-ISA badges and T-shirts to remind Penangites that 21 years ago the Mahathir government mounted a massive political clampdown, codenamed ‘Operasi Lalang’, against 106 Malaysians of various backgrounds under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Organised by the Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI, or Abolish ISA Movement) and Amnesty International, these activities were held at an open space next to the Prangin Shopping Mall in George Town to also remind visitors and concerned Malaysians of the injustice of the ISA.
Curious on-lookers and shoppers dropped by to see the exhibits and listen to the speeches, two of which were made by former ISA detainees.
Below are some photos of today’s anti-ISA function:
Curious visitors at the entrance
A figure that represents a tortured ISA detainee
Names of 66 known detainees who are still being detained, including Raja Petra Kamaruddin
A collection of newspaper cuttings regarding ISA detentions
An ex-detainee shares his experience and thoughts
Take 5
Sending postcards to provide moral support to the ISA detainees in Kamunting
Until and unless they’re released, we’re all still shackled
we want kuasa rakyat not kuasa barisan nasional all are useless. we want all are malaysians not umno mca mic gerakan what for… we will see the next general election we youth fully support kuasa rakyat malaysia…
We walk with all our brothers locked up unjustly under ISA.
Anti-ISA Candle-light Vigil held in PJ on Sunday, 19th October, 8pm — Photos, Video & Downloads:
http://iwfrpk.blogspot.com/
Give ear to our prayer,O God;
and hide not thyself from our supplication !
Let’s Pray for “Peace From Above” to touch the whole Nation.
Let’s Fast and Pray for Wisdom, Peace and Tranquility to prevail.
Let’s remember to Pray for RPK and all ISA detainees.
RELEASE RPK, and all ISA detainees. ABOLISH ISA NOW!
My salute to all Peacemakers.
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice” Martin Luther King.
So BRAVO! and THANK YOU to all of you good, caring aaBM out there in Penang who are in this good fight to raise awareness, to get RPK and all fellow citizen ISA detainees either charged or released and to abolish the cruel, unjust and immoral ISA!
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
I left Malaysia in search of a better life where I am free to think and do as I please, where nobody tells me what to think and do. I am a free spirited individual.
I have relatives and friends who now live in the United States, UK, New Zealand, Holland, Canada, and Australia – and call these places home.
If I were in your position, with all the racial discrimination back home in terms of places in the country tertiary education institutions, scholarships etc, I would be happy to pack up my bags and leave like some have done – like I and others like me, have done although for different reasons.
Life is more than just having a good job – and is not to be measured in terms of dollars and cents alone. I am not prepared to live a lie and say that I am happy when I am not.
We are among the fortunate in that we are able to exercise our freedom of choice. Others do not know what they are missing.
Freedom of speech is very important and should be upheld by every single individual be it in Malaysia or abroad. The Malaysian public has not reached the stage of speaking out their views and minds at the moment, but we have to make drastic changes for the benefit of all regardless of religion and race.
I am left speechless that now after 51 years of independence, Malaysians are still talking about the Malays, Indians and Chinese race and calling each other names, and telling each other to leave Malaysia if they don’t like it.
No matter what topic writes, the posting still leads back to us versus them, Malays versus Indians or Chinese, or vice versa. Please realise that not all malays share the views expressed and not all Indians or Chinese share the same views.
Maybe some have been rejected or disappointed are using this board to vent their anger and in doing so fan the fire or racial hatred. I really object when posters say the Malays, the Indians, the Chinese, etc. This is brushing the whole race with the same slur just because of the acts of a few.
I believe that the better ‘educated’ people are, the lesser bigot they are. Trust the professional malays (the ones who read widely). The ones you meet or hear about are perhaps ‘trained’ to be professionals and not educated – they perhaps have not even touched a book from the day that they graduated.
So, perhaps you should not include them in the same category as what we have here at this forum. See, let us encourage them, the others, to get exposed to the ‘elements’ in the real global society and then perhaps they would turn around to create a better nation for Malaysians.
I believe the first thing that should be changed is the ridiculous race column in our forms. The day we stop filling up the form as Malay, Indian, or Chinese and etc……….we will be truly Malaysians.
Now you know the reason I left Malaysia. Every race has a place in Malaysia. No Malaysian should feel he/she is a second class citizen. Just because the NEP provide privileges to the malays does not make the malays first class citizens. Remember this is just a privilege, not a right.
The right is to vote, own land, make money, live a peaceful life, do business and buy properties. Nobody can take that away from the citizens.
When you talk about emigration, there is more to it than just economics – and affirmative action policies.
It is our choice – and we are happy for it.
We still have roots back in Malaysia. We are thankful that as a result of their discriminatory policies, we are leading happy and fruitful lives in countries like the United States – where we are free, and I mean free.
mustafa, glad to note that you were there too. i was there too in the beginning about 12 noon and had also blog about it. wanted to go back at 8.00pm but heard it was closed already.
kudos to the organisers for a job very well done!
I was there on Sunday and I was the one who asked the Uztaz a question regarding ISA.
I did not really get a good reply. Maybe someone can reply to me and make me understand better.
I asked the question ” Is it true that more than 60% of the people detained in ISA are Malays ?” Then why dont I see any Malays present during the candlelight vigil or this operasi lalang exhibition.
The only Malays I see are the police from Special branch who are busy taking photos and observing.
Are the Malays not interested in the abolishment of ISA ?
Please someone make me undersatand.
yes we should support all activity against ISA
I was a bit too late when I got there. I missed the speeches, band, etc, but one thing I didn’t miss are the Special Branch people. They were all around the place.
http://www.danielykl.com/blog/2008/10/20/sheessh-sigh-i-was-late-but-i-was-there/
Cheers!