Rapper Atama ready for arrest

Despite police attempts to thwart its function, Sabah Progressive Peoples (SAPP) went ahead and launched the world's first online Kadazan-language radio station for 'clean, free and free' elections.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah musician-turned-activist, rapper Atama Katama, is prepared for detention, if the police chose to arrest him under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Atama, who is chairman of Bersih 2.0 Sabah ad hoc committee, is believed to be on the police wanted list for his unspoken support of the coalition’s call for free and fair elections.

“I have reason to believe that I am a target for arrest. I am prepared for it as I know there’s a price to pay in fighting for what I believe in – that is democracy and civil liberties of this country.

“I also believe there are many like-minded Malaysians who support me and that is what inspired me and keeps me going despite all the challenges I’m facing,” he said yesterday.

The controversial Sabah hip-hop singer said this while leading a group of more than 100 Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) leaders and supporters to the launching of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) online radio and TV, Sabahtv.net, at its headquarters in Bornion Centre, Luyang here, today.

He was responding to a question from reporters on talk that his name was on the police’s “arrest list” alongside the Bersih 2.0 organisers.

Police in peninsular Malaysia had issued issued a restrictive order on 91 individuals in relation to the Bersih 2.0 rally yesterday. Sixty of them were direct Bersih members.

Blatantly deceitful

Asked about his relationship with SAPP, Atama said MCLM and SAPP shared the same struggle for autonomy for Sabah besides good governance and civil liberties.

He said he has no intention of joining any political party for now and will remain a MCLM member and a social activist.

“We in MCLM will be there whenever required, to help protect and exercise the civil liberty of Malaysians, especially those in Sabah,” he said.

He also proclaimed that despite being prevented from holding the Bersih 2.0 gathering here, MCLM had succeeded in driving home its campaign to push for “clean and fair elections” in this country.

Meanwhile, in a prepared statement issued at the launching ceremony, SAPP president and former chief minister Yong Teck Lee said the purpose of Sabahtv.net was to push for clean, free and fair elections.

He said that only when there is free access to the media will the people know what and who they are voting for.

“Only with clean, free and fair elections will Sabah gain autonomy and a clean government of the people, for the people, by the people of Sabah.

“But the government electronic media has become blatantly deceitful.

“With your support, Sabahtv.net can become a truly alternative voice of the people that is clean, brave and true (bersih, berani, benar).

“Radio Sabahtv will also broadcast issues affecting ordinary people in Sabah,” he said.

Police interference

It will be broadcast in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Kadazan and in the process will be the only Internet Kadazan-language radio in the world.

The heavy presence of police personnel and a minor commotion in the early morning when a group of Kota Kianabalu City Hall (DBKK) enforcement personnel attempted to take down an “illegal” SAPP billboard, failed to disrupt the gathering.

The DBKK officers’ attempt to remove the billboard was thwarted after SAPP demanded they produce an order declaring the billboard was illegal.

Around noon, minutes before the launch of sabahtv, another commotion occurred when a youth was spotted by the police carrying an umbrella resembling a Samurai sword.

He was let off after police ascertained that he was carrying an umbrella.

Police started setting up roadblocks at strategic places around the city perimeters, as early as 2am and this was blamed for the reduced number of people who turned up at the function.

The crowd at the function was estimated at between 500 and 600.

Earlier, SAPP Youth members led by its women’s wing chief Melanie Chia also distributed bottles of water to all those police personnel who were present at the occasion.

Also present to lend their moral support was a group of United Borneo Front (UBF) leaders and supporters led by its president, Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, and Michael Liew, the de facto leader of MCLM Sabah chapter.

Among the SAPP leaders who were present were MP Eric Majimbun, Liew Teck Chan, its secretary-general Richard Yong, Women chief-cum-Luyang State assemblywoman Melanie Chia, Youth chief Edward Dagul, and vice-president Dullie Marie.