Press Statement by Agora Society on 7 July 2019 in Kuala Lumpur
Agora Society is gravely disappointed and condemns police actions taken against The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall - Youth Section (KLSCAH Youth) Chief, Siah Kwong Liang and the outgoing Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) President, Wong Yan Ke and others, for organizing or supporting events related to the recent Hong Kong’s anti-extradition to China movement in Malaysia. Agora Society is shocked such political intimidation is still happening in the purportedly ‘New Malaysia’, and we condemn the police for taking unnecessary actions in an attempt to stifle or deter peaceful political rallies.
The “No Retreat! In Solidarity with Hong Kong” participatory performance art rally and “Your One Country, My Two System” public forum took place on 16th of June and 19th of June respectively were both held in a peaceful manner. The former is an assembly that has strictly adhered the principle of peaceful assembly and was held under the watchful eyesof the police force, while the latter is a public forum co-organized by the KLSCAH Youth and Agora Society which was primarily held for the public to exchange their ideas and views regarding the recent Hong Kong’s protest.
Yet, Wong Yan Ke as a fellow participant of the 16th of June rally and Siah Kwong Liang as a representative of KLSCAH Youth were summoned to the police and subsequently questioned and intimidated by the Malaysian Special Branch with threats such as: ‘we have the power to disband your society’, ‘we can stop you from graduating and get a job’ and ‘I could transfer RM2 million into UMANY‘s account and get it disbanded for receiving illicit money’ and many more. These threats are intended to create a chilling effect and to show that Malaysia is appeasing to China. Furthermore, such wild threats used by the police also exposed the fact that Malaysia’s political freedom and liberties have been eroded.
Right before the change of government, Malaysia’s very own BERSIH and REFORMASI movements have been largely cheered and supported by pro-democracy civil societies all around the world, including Hong Kong and its support was very much welcomed by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) politicians when they were still in opposition. However there is now an air of silence within the PH coalition when most of the ordinary Hong Kong citizens were voicing the same demands against the Hong Kong authorities. Moreover, some of the Malaysian supporters of the Hong Kong’s protest were even accused of meddling in China’s affairs. Therefore, it is questionable that the PH coalition are really committed to the ideals of democracy and human rights, or rather China’s interest trumps everything else in the eyes of the new government?
Political intimidation is by no means a new feature in Malaysia as the past Malaysia’s government under UMNO’s Mahathir, Najib and Abdullah Badawi were fond of using oppressive means to intimidate political dissidents to solidify their rule. This is why it is regrettable to witness the same old political intimidation under the ostensibly more progressive PH government, and even cabinet ministers are by no means innocent. In just a period in one week, Malaysians have witnessed how the Minister of Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, Yeo Bee Yin has threatened to resort to legal means to go after the alleged online slanderers with regards to the Pasir Gudang’s chemical gas accident. The Minister of Primary Industries, Teresa Kok, has also publicly chided International School students for having a performance to protest against oil palm plantations, and it has led to the Ministry of Education to release a statement stating that it will take appropriate action against the aforementioned school. These series of events inspire no confidence among the Malaysians that the new government is different from Barisan Nasional (BN), and Agora Society doubts that the PH government is sincere in political reform.
Lastly, Agora Society implore the police force to stop using political intimidation against any Malaysians whose political stand is different from the government and urge the Home Ministry and Special Branch to focus its time and resources to combat crime and corruption instead of curtailing the political liberties of Malaysians.
Agora Society Malaysia
7.7.2019
* Agora Society Malaysia is a loose network of individuals who believe in the principles of democracy and good governance. More information please visit http://agoramalaysia.
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