Malaysia: Is Asking for Fundamental Rights so Threatening?

Two weeks after the largest demonstration in a decade that held in the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, to ask for fair and clean election, another rally was organized by HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) on 25 Nov 2007 in the city to hand in the petition to British High Commission asking for compensation to two millions ethnic Indians whose ancestors were brought into the country in 19th century but without taking care of their rights. However, the real goal of the demonstration is believed to highlight the unfair treatments received by marginalized Indians in Malaysia. Many ethnic Indians still live in poverty because Malaysian laws and policies favour the majority Malays.

It is the constitutional right in democratic country to have the freedom of expression and assembly. In Malaysia, gathering of 5 people or more will need to apply for permit. However, both applications for permits for rallies on 10 November 2007 and 25 November 2007 were rejected by police based on the fear of public disorder and racial hatred, despite it had been claimed and assured numerous times by organizers as peaceful and orderly rallies. Instead of applying the police force to guide the traffic during the rallies that would last only a couple of hours, road blocks had been set up days before for roads incoming to the city centre causing much inconvenience and massive traffic congestions. Despite facing peaceful crowds, police force had used excessive force by firing teargas and water cannons to disperse the unarmed demonstrators. More than one hundred people were arrested during the rally. Government and police forces are there to serve the people, but it appeared the other way round in Malaysia.

More and more Malaysians have started to stand up for their rights in social reforms. Most are still relying on internet as main source of news to hear the voices of oppositions. In the main stream media, most news are one-sided, even the largest rally held in a decade was rarely covered in local newspapers, that is because media is not totally free to report as permits need to be applied every year, which has caused most voters uninformed about the real situations, particularly for those who are lack of access to internet.

What are the objectives of these two rallies? For the first rally held on 10 November 2007, the objective is to ask for electoral reform in order to have a fair and clean election, which might be held next year in 2008. For the second rally held on 25 November 2007, the objective is to highlight the unfair treatments, the minority Indians are asking for basic equality of rights, not even any privileges over other races. Both objectives represent the most basic qualities a democratic country should have, what is so threatening to the authorities? however, the government and police have handled it undemocratically by refusing the fundamental and constitutional rights of its citizen and over-reacting by using excessive force towards unarmed peaceful demonstrators.

Demonstrators pledged for their constitutional rights

Teargas was fired over to unarmed peaceful demonstrators
Photo by hidupku