Burma deports Yeoh, M'sia deports Song
'This reminds me of Bersih chief S Ambiga and several other activists who were denied entry into Sarawak during the recent Sarawak elections.'
Burma deports, blacklists Michelle Yeoh
Anonymous: This reminds me of Bersih chief S Ambiga and several other activists who were denied entry into Sarawak during the recent Sarawak elections.
From this similarity, we can see Malaysia is not that different from the Burmese military regime. Power-crazy politicians the world over are the same.
Ferdtan: It makes no difference to me. Michelle Yeoh is just another actress. If she were to use her fame to help the our underprivileged children or do some charity - I would have been more supportive.
AnonymousA: Michelle Yeoh does look a bit like Ang San Suu Kyi. I hope she plays her part well in her own homeland, the once lovely Malaysia - dare to be different and stand up to be counted, and not just another ‘kaki angkat' mingling with the BN VIP circle.
Ben Hor: Anyone, foreign or local, who dares play a character who is against the government, would probably not be deported, but rather detained under ISA. Characters that resemble opposition key figures on the other hand will be sought after to play the next ‘sex scandal'.
Shabaruddin: For playing a pro-democracy champion, would Michelle also be deported from Malaysia in the Bersih crackdown? Hope not.
NuckinFuts: Good timing too. Now the world's eyes are on this Malaysian actress, perhaps the similarities between the Burmese junta and the BN crackdown on the rakyat can be drawn.
Not Convinced: Burma's junta deports Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. Malaysia's police are to deport South Korean intern Song Min Young. Yes, we are not so different from Burma after all.
' Expect pre-emptive arrests of Bersih leaders'
Nik V: I agree that many policemen and women within the rank and file are under orders to act. Needless to say, some are pro-Umno/BN and that can't be helped.
But we should not make an enemy of our security forces and hope that they will practice caution and restraint to the Bersih walkers even though they may be instructed to be aggressive to the very people they are supposed to protect.
We can only hope that many of the cops will have a conscience and will move cautiously in spite of orders from their superiors and the power-crazy politicians. Our cops need to ‘sedar' (realise) that in the end, their personal actions, even though under orders, will benefit those in Umno-MCA-MIC-Perkasa-BN, not them.
They need to consider that maybe, under the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, they might actually become a great and respected police force once again.
Patriot: The more they try to thwart the gathering, the more support they are going to lose and it gives truth to the allegation of outright election fraud.
One way for the PM to prove his statements that the elections are fair and clean should allow some of the NGOs, including Bersih, to be election observers. This will put to rest any allegation or suspicion of voting discrepancies.
I think if Bersih is allowed or appointed as observers for the elections, they may just call off this gathering which can get very ugly and dangerous like what is happening in the Middle East countries.
The PM should walk his talk and not play ‘sepak takraw'. He must show his sincerity to bring changes.
Ghkok: All my friends are suddenly asking where to get the yellow T-shirts. So the more oppression, repression and suppression there are, the more yellow T-shirts there will be.
Atan-Toyol: Obviously, these BN leaders have not learned any lesson whatsoever from the turmoils in the Middle East. Perhaps they want to emulate the examples of their Middle Eastern counterparts.
Will Malaysia be another Syria, where the regime has inflicted a lot of harm and death upon the protestors? The BN does not want clean elections because they know they will not win that way. They must resort to cheating and manipulation of the electoral process to stay in power.
So much is at stake; to lose power means to lose everything, including the thing they fear most - their freedom. Those who have committed crime, corruption and bribery must face the music when there is a change of government.
By hook or crook, they must 'defend' Putrajaya. But against whom? Their own rakyat.
Loyal Malaysian: For a trumped-up charge of waging war against the Agong, the Sungai Siput MP and 30 other Bershih activists are remanded for seven days. The writing is on the wall. The ISA sweep shall commence soon and with it, a clampdown on the alternative media.
Ablastine: Assuming that Umno somehow manages to arrest all the Bersih leaders, which probably numbers into the thousands, and somehow succeed in stopping it, what next? Don't they have to face the people again in the coming election?
Frankly, the people can only take so much of suppression. The Umno government is really getting desperate. They can't even understand that if they do not fan the fire of this rally, it would die down as fast as it starts. I mean what is a peaceful march that last only two hours? Before you know, it is already over.
In fact, if it goes on with no hitch, the BN government would actually score some brownie points for being open and cooperative. Perhaps I shouldn't have written this lest they get smart and take up my suggestion.
Meranti Kepong: I wonder if PM Najib Razak and his cohorts will resort to ‘Operation Lallang II' to stop the Bersih leaders. If so, then these desperados are committing political suicide.
Amirtham Bala: Listen to the distant drums within. No one can take away your conscience by using force or threat. The injustices are glaring at us. You can only defend it - and it is now or never - by exercising your democratic right.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
For more news and views that matter, subscribe and support independent media for only RM0.36 sen a day:
Subscribe now