[Kebangkitan rakyat Kedah begitu menggusarkan Mahathir. Banyak helah beliau sudahpun dapat dicium oleh BA. Pengundi hantu dan penyalah-gunaan dana serta salah-laku pemimpin Umno sudah banyak rakyat tahu. Dengan menangkap Ezam begitu terburu-buru dan cuba menonjol kekuatan polis nampak jelas Umno begitu takut kepada suara demokrasi. Kita jangan lupa Anwar ditangkap selepas perhimpunan terbesar di dataran merdeka. Cara Anwar ditangkap dan Ezam diberkas bukan lambang satu pasukan polis yang semakin mesra tetapi ia satu sikap yang semakin gentar kepada kebenaran yang tidak pudar-pudar.
- Editor ]

KEDAH BERGEGAR MAHATHIR TERCABAR

Ezam menafikan beliau menyebut untuk mengadakan demo setiap hari sebagaimana yang dilapurkan oleh Utusan. Polis telah bertindak mengikut catatan akhbar dan tidak mengendahkan suasana malam lebaran untuk memberkas Ezam. Yang peliknya wartawan atau editor Utusan tidak dipersoalkan. Dollah Badawi pun dua kali lima mengambil kenyataan dari akhbar sebagai sandaran. Apa yang menarik tangkapan ini dibuat selepas Mahathir memberi kata-dua bahawa KeADILan mahu menghuru-harakan keadaan.

Kita perlu mengimbau kejadian polis mendera dan mengganas perhimpunan aman kebangkitan rakyat marhaen di Kubang Pasu dan Kulim. Di Jitra Kedah baru-baru ini 25,000 rakyat berhimpun tetapi tiada apa-apa pun kekacauan. Polis bukan lagi bertindak untuk menjaga rakyat tetapi untuk menjaga imej pemimpin dengan menakutkan serta mendera rakyat.

POLIS YANG SEMAKIN MESRA?

Perhimpunan cahaya lilin di sekitar stadium merakam satu sikap kebengisan polis yang masih belum berubah sejak diasuh Dollah Badawi. Mereka menyepak lilin-lilin bertebaran bagai di dalam geram sedangkan lilin tidak mempunyai apa-apa kesalahan. Sebaliknya lilin mencerahkan jalan agar polis tidak tersepak batu atau terjatuh ke dalam lubang.

Ketua polis itu memberi arahan:

"Saya mahu tangkap".

Sebagai orang melayu yang bersopan dan beradab, beliau seharusnya mengatakan:

"Saya ingin kamu bersurai".

Ini bukan sikap mesra rakyat tetapi satu sikap yang mahu bermusuh dan mendera rakyat. Sembilan reformis ditangkap termasuk Raja Petra dan isteri serta dua wanita.

Polis juga menafikan keluarga Ezam menemui beliau sempena Aidil Adha. Padahal Ezam belum terbukti bersalah di mahkamah. Beliau ditangkap berdasarkan lapuran akhbar yang sahihnya begitu samar. Menurut Zainur Zakaria polis tidak mempunyai alasan kukuh untuk menahan reman Ezam tanpa sebarang tuduhan berasas. Beliau ditahan di bawah akta Hasutan yang boleh membawa denda maksimum 3 tahun penjara.

SUARA RAKYAT JANGAN DICENGKAM

Akhbar Sun melapurkan satu kenyataan menarik TG Nik Aziz:

"Manusia adalah satu mahluk yang jika kita mahu menyekat mereka dari menyatakan perasaan - mereka akan mencari cara lain. Sikap kerajaan masakini amat tidak demokratik".

Rakyat bangkit memenuhi jalanraya kerana sistem yang ada sudah gagal memainkan peranan. Beberapa isu penting tidak dibenarkan untuk dibincangkan di parlimen. Malah kebebasan para peguam sendiri dipertikaikan sedangkan mereka mewakili suara pelanggan.

Menurut pemerhati politik, Ezam mempamirkan gaya berpakaian dan persembahan Anwar. Beliau dapat berpidato dengan begitu bersemangat dan boleh menarik perhatian. Bayangan Anwar inilah yang menyebabkan Umno diselubungi keresahan dan ketakutan. Apa yang berlaku di Kedah baru-baru ini menggambarkan penduduk desa dan akar-umbi Umno sudahpun menyeberang sehingga Lunas yang kuat pun boleh tumbang dan pohon di Kubang Pasu turut bergoyang. Yang menarik golongan tua bekas penyokong Umno turut tidak ketinggalan untuk bersama dalam setiap perhimpunan.

Laman ASWJ pula menyebut kerajaan sudah mula mengawal kemasukkan majalah FEER dan Asiaweek sehingga ia tertunda seminggu lamanya. Edisi baru sudahpun tercetak tetapi yang lama belum diluluskan untuk edaran walaupun tiada rencana yang begitu menyakitkan Umno. Tetapi 8% rakyat Malaysia yang berjumlah 22 juta itu masih mampu menerokai internet untuk mencari berita. Menurut sumber dalaman arahan terhadap majalah itu datang dari pejabat Dr Mahathir. Ini membayangkan Mahathir sendiri begitu takutkan demokrasi. Beliau begitu terkilan dan geram walaupun kepada sekeping gambar sahih yang disiarkan.

KEMPEN HARI KEZALIMAN MAHATHIR

Ezam ditangkap untuk membantutkan beberapa tunjuk perasaan yang mungkin lebih besar kerana beberapa krisis yang dijangka akan menyatukan semua rakyat dinegara ini tidak mengira kaum mereka. Banyak isu ketidakadilan akan memadamkan warna kaum dan menyatukan mereka untuk bertindak berdemo bersama-sama.

April 6 akan sidambut sdebagai hari dana disalahgunakan manakala April 14 adalah hari ulangtahun Anwar dijatuhkan hukuman pertama. Detik Gelita 14 itu dinamakan sebagai "Hari Kezaliman Mahathir".

Kesimpulannya Ezam adalah kuasa penggerak utama (driving force) kebangkitan rakyat marhaen mutakhir ini. Dengan merebaknya kebangkitan sehingga ke bumi Kedah dan tumpasnya Lunas, sokongan kepada Umno di negeri tumpah darah celup Mahathir itu menjadi semakin parah. Mahathir sebenarnya sudah menggelabah. Soalnya kenapa dia masih degil untuk memerintah? Padahal Ezam cuma bersenjatakan dengan satu lidah!

RENCANA RUJUKKAN:

From The South China Morning Post, HK
7th March 2001

Anwar ally faces sedition charges

Seven arrested after police disrupt candlelight vigil for detained opposition leader

AGENCIES in Kuala Lumpur

Mohamad Ezam Noor: 'misquoted' by newspaper

Police last night dispersed a crowd holding a candlelight vigil for an opposition leader arrested on suspicion of sedition after he reportedly called on supporters to take to the streets and protest against Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's Government.

At least seven of the 60 protesters were arrested for violating laws against illegal assembly. There were scuffles but no serious violence. Officers kicked the candles across the street and district police chief Bakri Zinin was heard shouting: "I want arrests!"

Earlier, members of the four-party opposition coalition denounced the arrest of National Justice Party youth leader Mohamad Ezam Noor as persecution and accused Dr Mahathir of using police to suppress political dissent. Mr Mohamad Ezam, a former political secretary to jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, was arrested on Monday.

He denies making the call, saying he was misquoted by a pro-government newspaper.

Police are due to seek a court order today to remand him in custody pending further investigation. Yesterday was a public holiday, so police had to wait until today to lodge their request.

"Police are viewing seriously the claim that Ezam was reported to be planning a mammoth street demonstration daily throughout the country," said Mohamad Bakri Zinin, police chief for the capital's Dang Wangi district. "Street demonstrations are illegal. We will investigate under the Sedition Act. Whatever action is unlawful . . . we will take necessary action."

"With this arrest, it is obvious that the mainstream media and the police have become partners in supporting a government bent on establishing a farcical democracy," the opposition said.

Mr Mohamad Ezam was arrested on Monday night by plainclothes policemen as he arrived at party leader Wan Azizah Ismail's house for a meeting, a police spokesman said. He is being held under Malaysia's Sedition Act, and faces a maximum three years in jail and a fine.

"The timing of the arrest smacks of nothing less than political persecution," said Azmin Ali, a leader of the National Justice Party, known as Keadilan in Malaysian.

Mr Mohamad Ezam's wife, Bahirah Tajul Arif, said police refused to allow her family to meet him yesterday or have food delivered to him for the Muslim holy day of Eid al-Adha on the grounds that he was not entitled to special privileges. "My children just want to seek their father's blessings on this special day," she said.

Hours before Mr Mohamad Ezam's arrest, members of Dr Mahathir's United Malays National Organisation lodged a complaint with police alleging that a vow he made to organise protests every day until the Government was ousted was rebellious. The comment was reported in local papers.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, speaking before the arrest, accused Mr Mohamad Ezam of sedition, saying his remarks showed an intention to topple the Government by force.

Defending the arrest yesterday, Mr Badawi said Mr Mohamad Ezam's reported statement could destabilise the country and stunt economic growth. "Ezam was arrested not because of his dissenting political views but because of what he said," he said.

Mr Mohamad Ezam and Keadilan denied advocating violence, but have vowed to continue the protest campaign.

His arrest also came the day after Dr Mahathir accused Keadilan of being willing to jeopardise national security to achieve freedom for Anwar, Dr Azizah's husband.

Anwar was fired in 1998 and later convicted of corruption and s###my. He is serving 15 years in jail.

http://www.scmp.com

From The Asian Wall Street Journal
7th March 2001

Malaysian Opposition Leader Is Held on Sedition Allegations

Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A magistrate ordered Wednesday that a leader of a protest campaign against Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad be jailed without charge while police investigate sedition allegations against him.

Ezam Mohamad Noor, the youth leader of the opposition National Justice Party, was remanded in custody following his arrest Monday for reportedly calling for street demonstrations every day until the government is ousted.

"This is a plot by Mr. Mahathir to destroy the opposition," Mr. Ezam said as he was led into court, handcuffed and flanked by four police officers.

Leaders from Malaysia's four-party opposition coalition Wednesday accused the government of using the police to stifle political dissent, and warned that further arrests were likely.

"Mr. Mahathir ... [is] very vicious and this action is suppressing our leaders," said Dian Chua, the National Justice Party's vice president. "We expect this is not the last case."

Outside the courthouse, a small crowd of supporters shouted the opposition reform slogan "reformasi" and "keep fighting Ezam" as the hearing went ahead in Magistrate Lim Kui Lee's private chambers.

Police said Mr. Ezam's arrest Monday night was in response to comments reported in a Malaysian newspaper that he wanted to topple the government. Mr. Ezam and the Justice Party have denied advocating violence but have vowed to continue organizing protests.

Nine people were arrested late Tuesday when police broke up a candlelight vigil outside the jail where Mr., Ezam was being held. They were released Wednesday and ordered to report to police later to find out if they would face illegal assembly charges.

Mr. Ezam's lawyer, Zainur Zakaria, told reporters that Mr. Lim had ruled that Mr. Ezam be held for four days, after which police must charge him or return to court to seek another remand order.

Mr. Zainur said he would appeal the ruling to the High Court on grounds Mr. Ezam's detention without charge was unjust. "Police have not given reasons to remand him," Mr. Zainur said.

Mr. Ezam has been the driving force behind a series of opposition protests which has picked up pace since late last year has recently extended into Mr. Mahathir's home state.

He is being held under Malaysia's Sedition Act, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in jail if he is charged and convicted.

Earlier this week, Mr. Mahathir accused the Justice Party of being willing to jeopardize national security to achieve freedom for Anwar Ibrahim, his former deputy.

Mr. Anwar was fired in 1998 and convicted of corruption and s###my on charges he insists were part of a conspiracy to extinguish any political challenge to his former mentor. He is serving 15 years in jail.

Separately, Malaysian censors have delayed the release of two Hong Kong-based news magazines that report on Asian affairs for the second week in a row.

No official explanation has been given, but both Asiaweek and the Far Eastern Economic Review have carried reports in recent issues that Mr. Mahathir's government would consider negative.

The restrictions come amid heightened scrutiny of the international media since Asiaweek published a cover story and pictures in January about Mr. Mahathir that he complained made him look tired and foolish.

Every week, the Home Ministry's powerful censorship board clears the print editions of foreign news magazines for distribution. Permission is usually given within a day.

According to their joint distributor, the editions of both magazines, which should have been on sale by last weekend, haven't yet been cleared. Nor has Asiaweek's edition from the previous week.

FEER's previous edition, which was held up for a week, reached the newsstands Monday, a week old and after a new edition had already been printed.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who runs the Home Ministry, has said that the delays are the responsibility of junior officials and refused to answer other questions.

Officials and journalists have, on condition of anonymity, said that they believe the orders came from Mr. Mahathir's office, but none could predict how long the delays would last.

The online editions of both magazines were available to the 8% of Malaysia's 22 million people who use the Internet. Neither currently carries articles that appears to put the government in a bad light.

The previous week, FEER carried a report about Mr. Mahathir losing support among his ethnic Malay Muslim powerbase, while Asiaweek showed links between influential Malaysians and Muslim rebels in the Philippines.

FEER is wholly owned by Dow Jones & Co., which also publishes The Wall Street Journal and its international and online editions, as well as news wires, Barron's and other magazines. Dow Jones also owns 50% of CNBC financial television operations in Asia and Europe, and provides content to CNBC in the U.S.

http://interactive.wsj.com/

http://livenews.lycosasia.com/sg/lv3_5_3.html

Malaysian opposition condemns arrest of Anwar aide

By Simon Cameron-Moore

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The wife of Anwar Ibrahim, the jailed rival of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, led Malaysia's opposition on Tuesday in condemning the arrest of an activist accused of planning unrest to topple the government.

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who formed the opposition Parti Keadilan Nasional after her husband's arrest in 1998, said activist Ezam Mohd Noor expected to be charged under the Sedition Act on Wednesday.

Ezam, leader of Keadilan's youth wing, was arrested on Monday outside Wan Azizah's house after Mahathir supporters asked police to investigate a pro-government newspaper report saying he planned daily protests to overthrow the government.

The Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front), grouping four opposition parties, issued a statement denouncing Ezam's arrest.

"With this arrest, it is obvious that the mainstream media and the police have become partners in supporting a government bent on establishing a farcical democracy," the opposition said.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi drew parallels with Malaysia's fight against communist rebels.

"The communists brought about chaos...burnt buses, trains and destroyed property with the intention of toppling the government," Badawi said.

But Wan Azizah, who attended a rally of more than 20,000 people in Mahathir's home state of Kedah at the weekend, said Keadilan did not want violent protests.

"We uphold the right to peacefully assemble," she told Reuters. "A rally is not part of the party programme it is (an expression) of ordinary people."

Police have got tough with demonstrators and fired water cannon and tear-gas at two Keadilan gatherings last month.

The spiritual leader of the main Islamic opposition party, Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), which organised the Kedah rally, also blasted the curbs on rights of assembly and media criticism.

"Humans are such that if you try to stop them from voicing their feelings they will find other ways," Nik Aziz Nik Mat said, according to the Sun newspaper.

"The government's present stand is undemocratic," he said.

IN ANWAR'S MOULD

Ezam and leaders of the other youth wings of parties in Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front) led by PAS, launched a nationwide campaign last week to highlight alleged misuse of public funds to bail out Malay tycoons with ties to government.

"We don't want to ruin the country or frighten people. It is just to raise people's awareness of how our country's coffers are being used," Wan Azizah said.

"People may be moved to register their protest, because sometimes they are not aware how the country is being run."

Ezam is the highest profile Keadilan leader after Wan Azizah. Formerly he was Anwar's political secretary and observers say he has cultivated a style of dress and speech similar to Anwar's.

Reform of Malaysia's enforcement agencies is a priority for Ezam, who is a standard-bearer for Keadilan's Reformasi movement.

"The reform movement is real. It is a continuous process and it is beyond Anwar," he told Reuters two weeks before his arrest.

"Most critical is the empowerment of the enforcement agencies -- the judiciary, the ACA (Anti-Corruption Agency), police and AG (Attorney-General's) Chamber," he said.

"They have to be empowered, have to be free, independent from the control of one man -- the PM," Ezam said.

The Muslim Hari Raya Aidiladha festival on Tuesday could mean Ezam is held longer than the customary 24 hours before being charged, whereupon he could be given bail.

Ezam told Reuters the campaign against misuse of funds aimed to mobilise support for a major rally on April 6.

He also said events were planned for April 14 to mark the second anniversary of the day Anwar received his first guilty verdict. Ezam billed the date as "Mahathir's Cruelty Day".

Anwar, a former finance minister and deputy prime minister, is serving a 15-year sentence for sex and corruption convictions he says were concocted for daring to challenge Mahathir.

Mahathir said Anwar was immoral and unfit to rule. The U.S. State department says he is a political prisoner.