‘Crackdown will not intimidate us’

About 4,000 people attended a DAP-organised rally in PJ last night where the speakers spoke about the arrests of three leaders under the Sedition Act.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat and the people would not be intimidated by the clamp down by the Barisan Nasional government on Pakatan leaders which has so far seen the arrest of three, the prosecution of one activist, and with more expected to be nabbed soon.

“The ones that should be fearful are the cowards in the Putrajaya,” said PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar to the cheers of nearly 4,000 capacity crowd yesterday attending Pakatan Rakyat Thanksgiving Gathering held at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya.

Also present as speakers for the gathering were former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua, Selangor DAP chief Teresa Kok, Selangor PAS leader Khalid Samad and Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said.

There were little police presence during the rally and they helped in manning the traffic to facilitate the huge attendance. The rally, organised by the DAP, was held after obtaining the necessary police approval.

Earlier yesterday, three Pakatan and NGO leaders were arrested under the Sedition Act. The police are expected to extend their remands today.

Those arrested were PKR vice president Tian Chua, PAS’ Tamrin Ghaffar and lawyer-activist Haris Ibrahim.

Nurul, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, said that the opposition pact was encouraged by the support given by the masses to continue their struggle against a corrupt and oppressive regime.

“It is your courage that gives us the strength against the racist and pathetic government. Not only will we teach the BN government what moral principle and good governance is all about, we will also show that we are better human beings than the idiots running the country,” she said.

BN’s divide and rule

Zaid also echoed Nurul’s sentiments, reminding Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that he had promised to repeal the Sedition Act last year.

“What is Najib talking about abolishing the Act? He is arresting more people under the legislation than usual,” he said.

The former minister also criticised the government for continuing to practise the age-old British system of divide and ruling Malaysians, using the race and religion card.

He reminded the attendees that Malaysia could not have achieved Independence without the sacrifices of all races.

“As a Malay, I am ashamed that there are some Malays in the country who are not appreciating the contributions of other races.

“Remember that Indians contributed by building railways for us, the Chinese in the mining areas while the Malays contributed by being in the administration side,” he said.

New minister under fire

Pua continued his criticism against Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Paul Low for apparently being a “lame duck” minister.

“Low said that he has no power and was appointed only to give proposals on how to eradicate corruption.

“Brother, you don’t need to be a minister to give proposals. I also can give proposals,” said Pua.

Pua, who is also Petaling Jaya Utara MP, admonished Low for being coy on the proposal that ministers and their immediate families must declare their assets to the public.

“Low said it will not be fair to a minister’s son to declare his wealth if he has RM20 million. Question is, how can a minister’s son get RM20 million? A ministerial salary does not allow you to have such amount of money,” he said.