MALAYSIAN PM REASSERTS COMMAND WITH NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's government reclaimed the streets of the capital Monday after massive weekend protests demanding the premier's ouster, staging its own show of force with colorful National Day celebrations attended by thousands.

With Prime Minister Najib Razak presiding, the government held a parade attended by large crowds of flag-waving spectators in scenes broadcast live, symbolizing what reform advocates and analysts admit will be an uphill task affecting change in the government.

Organizers of the weekend demonstrations said more than 200,000 people attended the rallies staged to demand Najib's removal over a financial scandal.

• But the weekend rallies and Mahathir's support are not seen as causing serious unease for Najib, who retains firm control of his powerful ruling party.
• His government in turn enjoys continued solid support among the country's majority ethnic Malay population.
• "The rallies showed (civil society and the opposition) can turn out the numbers, but whether actions like this can really make a difference is unclear," said Ibrahim Suffian, head of leading Malaysian polling firm Merdeka Centre.

Najib can rest easy because the only way anyone could remove him is through parliament or the ruling party. 
In a speech Sunday night, Najib defiantly refused to step down and called the protesters "shallow-minded".

Rally participants in Kuala Lumpur seemed drawn mostly from the country's ethnic Chinese minority, which  makes  up about a 
quarter of the population.

Source: Asia One

FESTIVAL-LIKE MOOD AT BERSEH 4.0 RALLIES IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO

 
KOTA KINABALU, Sabah, Malaysia  - There was a carnival air over the Likas Bay Park beach here as hundreds of people streamed in for the Sabah Bersih event.

Amid sounds of native Kadazandusun gongs, the participants walked several kilometres carrying the national and Sabah flags, with some shouting "Bersih!"

With police keeping a close eye on the ground, air and sea, the participants, mainly comprising youths and Opposition leaders from the DAP and PKR, seemed to enjoy the scenic view and sea breeze.

"We drove from Sandakan (300km from here) before sunrise to make it here for the march," said an office manager who identified herself only as Lim.

• "I participated to show my support for Bersih. My boss does not know I came," said the 38-year-old.
• Speeches and entertainment continued till late evening but many dispersed by 9pm.
• Kota Kinabalu police chief Asst Comm M. Chandra said the ring leaders would be summoned to give their statements for offences under the Peaceful Assembly Act.
• In Kuching, the police made no arrest, except seize several banners. Kuching police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad declared day one of the gathering as "peaceful" with no complaints from the public.
• "There were a few banners brought by gatherers that we found inappropriate. We seized those but that's about it," ACP Roslan told reporters yesterday evening.
• About 1,000 plainclothes and uniformed officers were on duty yesterday. Bersih 4 in Sarawak was the only assembly in Malaysia with council and police permits. 
• The Song Kheng Hai rugby pitch (also the venue of July 22's Sarawak for Sarawakians rally) turned into a sea of yellow - there were both Bersih 4 shirts as well as the state's yellow, red and black flags.

They marched from four approved gathering sites - car parks and hotel assembly points - alongside the police.

A dozen speakers featured, ranging from DAP and PKR members to civil activists like former Radio Free Sarawak presenter Peter John Jaban and his famous wife Karen Shepherd, who gained fame recently for slamming a state 

minister   for   labeling   her  a 

meddling foreigner.

Source: Asia One , Borneo Post

MALAYSIAN FORMER PM ATTENDED BERSEH 4 RALLY

 
KUALA LUMPUR - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali joined the participants at Bersih 4 at Dataran Merdeka.

The former prime minister and his wife made the surprise arrival at Dataran Merdeka at about 7.30pm and were greeted by hundreds of the protesters.

When asked by reporters if he agreed with the demands made by Bersih 4 organisers, Dr Mahathir simply smiled and waved to the crowd who acknowledged his presence.

"I just wanted to see," Dr Mahathir said.

When the crowd realised that Dr Mahathir was present, many rushed forward to greet him, creating a mini frenzy. Many called his name, others took snapshots of him with their mobile phones.

Dr Mahathir's bodyguards had to push away reporters and the rally participants who were surging forward to shake his hand.

Dr Mahathir walked for a while at Dataran Merdeka and left after five minutes after the crowd got bigger. He had got into a police car which drove away from Dataran heading towards Jalan Parliamen.

The couple arrived here from Johor where Dr Mahathir attended a 
dialogue.

Source: Asia One

WORLDWIDE BERSIH RALLIES KICKOFF

As tens of thousands take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur at the Bersih 4 rally today, thousands of others across the globe are doing the same in their own way.

Bersih 4 supporters gather in Perth, Australia. – Global Bersih Twitter pic, August 29, 2015.Bersih 4 supporters gather in Perth, Australia. 

Global Bersih Twitter pic, August 29, 2015.

In Perth, Australia, Malaysians have gathered since morning at Langley Park for their own Bersih 4 rally organised by Bersihkan Malaysia Perth and Malaysian Progressive Australia.

Demonstrators elsewhere around the world were also sharing their Bersih 4 moments in their respective localities via the Global Bersih group on Facebook and Twitter.

There were Bersih 4 demonstrators, whether in large and small groups or as individuals, at the Freedom Square in Taipei, Taiwan; Suzhou, China; Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand; Ontario, Canada; Switzerland, France, Singapore, Mongolia, Qatar and even Timor Leste.

A group in yellow has also gathered at the University of Washington in Seattle, United States in a photo seen on Twitter.

There was even a solidarity event underwater, as divers in Bali posed for photos with a yellow Bersih 4 banner in the sea.

Back home, the 34-hour Bersih 4 rally is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. 
Its goals are, among others, to demand reforms in the election system, governance, freedom to protest, parliamentary democracy and the economy. 

Source: The Malaysian Insider

MALAYSIAN BAR TELLS PUTERAJAYA TO UPHOLD FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

The Malaysian Bar has urged Putrajaya to uphold the freedom of information, following the state Internet regulator's move to restrict access to websites that promote the Bersih 4 rally.

Its president, Steven Thiru, said the move was a misuse of regulatory powers by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) if it restricted access to websites that allegedly promote, spread information, and encourage the public to participate in the rally.

He said this was because MCMC's decision was following an earlier statement by the Home Affairs Ministry that “Bersih 4.0” was not 
a registered body.

• "The stand taken by the ministry is misconceived.  There is no event or entity known as 'Bersih 4.0'.
• "Bersih 4 is an event. The organiser of Bersih 4 is the entity known as Bersih 2.0, which the High Court – in the case of Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Ors against Menteri Dalam Negeri and Ors [2012] 7 CLJ 43 – recognised as a society under section 2 of the Societies Act 1966.
• "Accordingly, the decision made by the ministry in relation to a non-existent event or an unknown entity (Bersih 4.0) is unjustifiable," Thiru said in a statement today.
• He said it would follow that the reliance placed by MCMC on the "erroneous decision" of the ministry, was indefensible in law.
• "It amounts to a misuse of the regulatory power reposed in MCMC under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA).
• "In any event, MCMC’s attempt to block access to websites would go against section 3(3) of the CMA, which provides that 'nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet', as well as the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees No. 7, which guarantees no censorship of the Internet."
• Thiru added that the decision by MCMC also contradicted the statement by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak on August 25 that the authority would not block access to any websites or social media platforms during the Bersih 4 rally.
• "It is disappointing that the government has chosen to blow hot and cold in this matter," he said.

The 34-hour Bersih 4 rally begins today. It will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and other major cities in the world. Tens of thousands are expected to participate in the event.

The rally is held to call for electoral reform, a clean government,strengthening democracy, 
the  right  to   peaceful  assembly 
and to save the economy.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

EU URGED TO STEP UP ACTION AGAINST MEDITERRANEAN MIGRANTS SMUGGLERS

BRUSSELS , Belgium - The European Union should increase the number of warships patrolling the Mediterranean Sea and start searching and diverting vessels suspected of smuggling migrants, an Italian admiral told EU ambassadors on Thursday.

Many tens of thousands of people have put to sea this year, mainly setting out from Libya and Turkey, in the hope of reaching Europe. 
At least 2,300 are believed to have died while trying to make the crossing, often in flimsy boats crammed dangerously full by people-traffickers.

An EU military operation, launched in June, has so far focussed on gathering intelligence on the smugglers' activities.

• On Thursday the head of the mission, Admiral Enrico Credendino, proposed to step up the operations, a close aide to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Twitter.
• "Admiral Credendino proposes to EU ambassadors to pass to phase 2 and act in high seas," Sabrina Bellosi tweeted.
• The second phase of the operation would allow EU military officials to search and divert suspect vessels in international waters, but at this stage warships would not venture into Libyan territorial waters, a EU diplomat told Reuters.
• To go there, EU vessels would need a go-ahead from the United Nations or from the Libyan authorities, which they cannot get at the moment because Libyan factions are struggling to negotiate the formation of a unity government.
• EU defence and foreign ministers will discuss whether to step up military operations at a meeting in Luxembourg next week.

"The green light is not guaranteed," the diplomat said, as the launch of phase 2 would imply the commitment of new vessels, military personnel and financial resources.

The stated objective of the EU military operation is to "disrupt the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Mediterranean," including by destroying  the boats 
used to carry  the  migrants while 
still anchored in Libya.

Source: Reuters

MALAYSIAN BERSIH THREATENS TO SUE MCMC OVER WEBSITE BAN

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -  All websites that promote, spread information and encourage the public to join the Bersih 4 rally will be blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

The commission is calling for the public to report such websites or social media accounts spreading content that could harm the nation’s stability, public order and economic stability.

In response,   Bersih 2.0 has threatened to sue the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) unless it withdraws a ban on websites that spread information on the Bersih 4.0 rally.

The Bersih 2.0 chief Maria Chin Abdullah (pic) said that MCMC’s decision was quite shocking and against constitutional rights.

“It’s against the right to information, and he we are talking about implementing the right of information act,” she said adding that MCMC’s purpose was to ensure freer flow of information.

Maria said that the organisers of the rally depended on social media and the internet for security, crowd control and to counter misinformation.

“We really depend on the internet for our dissemination of information. To stop that is going to cause inconvenience for us.

“We are going to sue them if they do not withdraw…It is really against the rakyat’s right to information. They have no right to block it,” she said.   

Source: The Star

REPORTER, CAMERAMAN KILLED ON AIR IN VIRGINIA, USA

MONETA, Va, U.S.A. — A television reporter and cameraman were shot to death on live television Wednesday in Virginia by a gunman authorities described as a disgruntled station employee. 
A second video of the shooting, apparently recorded by the killer, was posted on social media even as police tried to locate the suspect.

Reporter Alison Parker was interviewing an economic development official about local tourism as eight shots rang out. She screamed, ran and could be heard saying "Oh my God," as she too was shot. Adam Ward's camera captured a fleeting image, including the face, of a man holding a handgun.

WDBJ quickly switched back to a shot of the anchor back at the station, her eyes large and jaw dropping as she said, "OK, not sure what happened there. We will of course let you know as soon as we find out what those sounds were from."

Law enforcement confronted Vester Flanagan on Interstate 66 and Flanagan shot himself, officials tell CNN.

Source: Yahoo News(AP)...More...

FORMER MALAYSIAN DPM GETS OFFICIAL INVITATION FROM BERSEH 4?

 

Former deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has received an invitation to attend the Bersih rally this weekend.

Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) Youth delivered the invitation at Muhyiddin's house in Bukit Damansara, here, at 11.30am on Wednesday.
According to GHB Youth, as of now, Muhyiddin is the only Umno leader given an official invitation.

• Despite being declared illegal, Organisers said that the Bersih 4.0 overnight rally will take place on Aug 29 and 30.
• On Tuesday, the police said that the rally was illegal as the organisers have "failed to issue a complete notice to the police".
• The complete notice, which included a detailed plan of the routes and venues that would be used, would allow police to facilitate the rally.
• According to the police, the organisers failed to submit the notice after the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) rejected their applications to use Dataran Merdeka and Padang Merbok as venues.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Zainol Samah said after a meeting with Bersih 2.0 chief Maria Chin Abdullah that the organisers have not adhered to existing laws requiring them to get the permission for the use of Dataran Merdeka.

However, according to Maria, the  Police "had understood" that the protesters will not enter the Dataran 
Merdeka. 

Source: Agency

SINGAPORE GOES TO THE POLLS ON SEPT 11

Political parties and their supporters swung into action yesterday, after President Tony Tan Keng Yam dissolved Parliament and news followed that the general election would be held on Sept 11.

At People's Action Party (PAP) branches and opposition party offices across the island, activists finalised their candidate line-ups and worked to ensure that campaign flags, posters and, especially, nomination papers would be in order.

Nomination Day will be next Tuesday, Sept 1, with the minimum of nine days to campaign before Cooling-off Day on Sept 10. Polling Day will be a public holiday.

It is the first time since 1997 that a general election will be held on a weekday. Some PAP activists said holding the polls on Sept 12 would have clashed with community events planned for the last day of the Chinese Seventh Month.

Opposition parties have resolved remaining differences and are set to go into straight fights with the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) at the next general election.

This follows announcements yesterday by the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and Singaporeans First party (SingFirst) to withdraw from areas other opposition parties have also staked claims to.

Source: AsiaOne

MALAYSIAN RINGGIT TRADE AT 4.2430 TO THE US DOLLAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -  The ringgit shed nine sen against the US dollar Monday morning, its biggest single day drop in the current down cycle. The ringgit was trading at 4.2430 to the US dollar, which was another fresh low since 1997.

The fall in the ringgit puts heavy pressure on Bursa Malaysia, with the key FBM KLCI down more than 27 points in early Monday trade while the ringgit weakened further against the US dollar.

At 9.08am, the FBM KLCI was down 27.18 points or 1.73% to 1,547.49.  Turnover was nearly 200 million shares valued at RM79.52mil. Losers beat gainers 432 to 38 while 90 stocks were unchanged.

• Bloomberg reported Asian stocks slid to a two-year low as the selloff that has spread to almost every corner of the global equity market intensified, spurring demand for haven assets.
• JF Apex Research said following the bearish sentiment in the US and Europe, "we expect the KLCI to be negative today and likely to test its support of 1,545".
• BIMB Securities Research data showed foreign funds were net sellers of Malaysian equities at -RM1.349bil in the week ended Aug 21 and on the last day of the week they were net sellers at –RM375mil. Local institutions were net buyers at RM1.340bil in the week and RM363.5mil on Friday.

At Bursa Malaysia, banks were under pressure, with Public Bank down 38 sen to RM17.32 and Maybank losing 22 sen to RM8.37.

Petronas Gas fell 38 sen to RM17.32, KL Kepong 30 sen to RM 20 while Amway was down 20 sen to RM10 and MPI 19 sen to RM6.30. AirAsia fell one sen to 96 sen in active trade. 
MISC was up 16 sen to RM8.15.

Source: The Star