DBKL turns blind eye to video screening at Dataran

Despite a DBKL 30 minute time limit, the Occupy Dataran group managed to screen its youth-housing video at Dataran Merdeka for two hours without harassment from the authorities last night.

While the organisers were trying to set up a mini theatre beside Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad at 8.40pm, three DBKL officers tried to stop the show, without providing further reasons.

Estimated at 40, the participants, smelling trouble, readied their cameras and smartphone to record such  a possibility.

However the organisers, including Occupy leaders Fahmi Reza, Boon Kia Ming (left), negotiated with the officers for few minutes and officers finally agreed to give half an hour.

To their surprise , up until the show ended at 10.30pm, there was no disruption from either DBKL or the police.

Boon later told reporters that his belief is that the Dataran should be freely available for public use as it is a public area.

Defying PAA 2012

 "The people could gather peacefully and discuss rationally about affordable housing for the young."

He added that he was determined to screen the video at the Dataran to defy the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which requires police to be notified before public gatherings are held.

Titled "M-C-M': Uthopian milik siapa? (Whose ideal property) " and directed by Boon, the 30-min video describes how difficult is for youth to own affordable housing in urban areas with skyrocketing property prices.

The video discussed the housing issue within the context of the capitalist system, arguing that banks are milking huge profits out of hardworking depositors' money by lending extensively without taking into account the loan taker's financial background.

Thus, helping to create the property bubble, warning that leaving the matter unresolved could mean that Malaysia might face and economic crisis, the video added.

The video interviewee, Dr Ernest Chong, blamed the government policy of relaxing loan condition, let the cheap loan floated and push up the properties market.

The audience, mostly youths, tended to concur with the video and related their personal experience on the hurdles to overcome in owning affordable homes.