Cops investigate ‘Malaysian Spring’ organisers

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — The police are investigating those who have been “planting” multi-coloured “flowers” or mini flags in the city under their “Malaysian Spring” initiative.

There have been accusations by certain bloggers that the “Malaysian Spring” organisers are planning an Arab Spring-like revolution after tomorrow’s polls.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (picture) said today that the “Malaysian Spring” movement was connected to the Arab Spring revolution in the Middle East, where several autocratic governments were overthrown through mass demonstrations.

“What does Malaysian Spring mean? It has got to do with Arab Spring,” Khalid told reporters at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here.

“We will take action against those who are organising this movement,” he added, but refused to specify which laws the organisers would be charged under.

Ng Seksan, the landscape architect who initiated the “Malaysian Spring” campaign, has denied allegations that the mini flags are focal points for demonstrations if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) loses the 13th general election.

He emphasised today that the “Malaysian Spring” campaign is an initiative by ordinary citizens, who fund the making of the “flowers” themselves.

Some 16,000 multi-coloured mini flags were first planted inside the Jalan Tempinis roundabout in Lucky Garden, Bangsar here in the Lembah Pantai constituency on April 14.

Since then, the movement has spread to nearby suburbs in the city, such as Damansara Heights, Sri Hartamas and Taman Tun Dr Ismail in the neighbouring Segambut federal seat, and even to other states like Perak and even further afield to Barcelona and London.

Khalid said today that the police have started to remove the coloured flags ahead of tomorrow’s polling that will see PR and Barisan Nasional (BN) in a neck-and-neck race to form the next government.

“I’m cautioning people to stop joining the Malaysian Spring movement,” he said.

“Before the democratic process is even finished, there are already people who are trying to demonstrate through Malaysian Spring,” added Khalid.