UPDATED It looks like the Black 505 rallies are gathering steam. As Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who spearheaded the people's movement to protest massive fraud in the country's May 5 general election said, the eyes of the world are on Malaysia - not just on its hardline government but also on the Malaysian people.
Will Malaysians allow themselves to be cheated and made fools of by lackeys of Prime Minister Najib Razak's government, asked Anwar? Or they will stand up for themselves and show their displeasure at being robbed of their basic rights to choose the government they want through a free and fair election?
Make June 22 a turning point for Malaysia
According to Anwar, the acid test will be a mammoth gathering planned for this Saturday at the Padanag Merbok field nearby to Parliament House and the Lake Gardens.
"June 22 is very critical. Everyone, from orang kampong (village folk), to fishermen, farmers and most important of all young Malaysians must come. The world, just like Indonesia, is watching. Is there going to be a protest, is it true the people want to clean up the electoral system, is it true they want to plug up all the weaknesses?" Anwar told a rally in Johor.
"If we succeed, then God willing, I am sure June 22 will mark a turning point in Malaysia's cruel political landscape."
The 64-year-old Anwar had been grilled by the Indon press on the June 22 event when he was in Jakarta over the weekend to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who also expressed interest in the Black 505 rally.
Will the police help or obstruct the people?
Meanwhile, with 2 days to go, Pakatan Rakyat leaders had been called up to see the police chief at the Dang Wangi station to discuss "matters related to public security". The meeting was later cancelled at the "last minute".
The Pakatan leaders are PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, DAP's Loke Siew Fook and PAS' Syed Azman Syed Ahmad.
"I was contacted by IPD Dang Wangi to inform that the scheduled meeting between PDRM and PR reps today is cancelled at the last minute, as the OCPD was summoned to Bukit Aman," Rafizi said in an email to Malaysia Chronicle.
The press conference scheduled at 5pm has been cancelled, added Rafizi.
The PKR leader had earlier told Malaysia Chronicle he expects the meeting to center around Saturday's event, which aims to provide a platform for Malaysians to express their unhappiness at the evident fraud and vote rigging that went on during the recently-concluded May 5 general election.
"I was under the impression that the meeting was to work out safety and crowd control arrangement for the June 22 Black 505. If this is true, then I am hopeful it will be a positive meeting," Rafizi had said.
Prime Minister Najib Razak's government, which won 133 seats versus the Pakatan's 89 but managed to eke out only 47% of the total votes cast versus the Pakatan's 51%, has tried hard to suppress the Black 505 rallies through a combination of scare tactics and crackdowns against the Opposition leaders who organized the events.
However, the crowds - which consists mostly of young Malaysians in their 20s ad 30s, have not stopped coming. Neither has the public clamoring for the resignations of the Election Commission chairman and his deputy stopped. Both menhave been accused of bias and helping Najib's BN coalition to cheat at the polls.
The Pakatan also wants re-elections in 30 seats where it claims there has been overwhelming evidence of fraud.
Flash mobs now in demand all over the country
A series of flash mobs organized in conjunction with the June 22 event have also been hugely successful.
Main organizer, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, has released the latest timetable (scroll below)for the flash mobs.
"The police intervened and arrested more than 15 participants at the first two flash mobs which took place in Kuala Lumpur. That has not stopped the young people in this country. Instead, they now want to take more than before. The tyranny and oppression on June 15 has awakened nationwide interest and demand for the flash mobs to be held in all the cities and towns," Edy Noor Reduan, the propaganda director of SAMM, said in a statement to Malaysia Chronicle.
"Let our young 'warm up' before the first real action on June 22. Droves will come to the Padang Merbok and they will not leave until the Election Commission chief and his deputy resign."Flashmob TERENGGANU | Khamis 20Jun | 5pm | Depan Giant K.T'ganu
Flashmob KEMAMAN | Khamis | 20Jun | 5pm | Depan Centre Point
FlashMob PERLIS | Khamis | 20 Jun | 5 Petang | Bulatan Persiaran Jubli Emas Kangar
Flashmob MELAKA | Khamis 20 Jun | 6pm | Jalan Utama Bandar Melaka (Sebelah Tesco Bandar Melaka)|
Flashmob SEREMBAN | Khamis 20 Jun | 5pm | Dataran Seremban
Flashmob KUANTAN (repeat) | Khamis 20 Jun | 5pm | (Tempat dirahsiakan)
Flashmob KELANTAN | Jumaat 21 Jun | 8.30am | Depan pejabat R, Tanjung, Jln Kuala Krai-K.B
Flashmob PERAK | Jumaat 21 Jun | 5pm | Simpang Empat Pau Yik Mun, Tanjung Malim | Bersama SAMM Perak & Mahasiswa UPSI
Flashmob RAWANG | Jumaat 21 Jun | 5pm | Stesen Komuter Rawang & Stesen Bas Rawang (mydin)
Grand Finale Flashmob KUALA LUMPUR | Jumaat 21 Jun | (Lokasi dirahsiakan)
Malaysia Chronicle
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