my guardian angels and fellow Malaysians who came out on Saturday, 9th July 2011
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| FRU & their RED trucks |
On Saturday, 9th July 2011
I cried when I first saw Malaysian FRU going up against Malaysian rakyat,
My fellow Malaysian rakyat were being tear-gassed by our very own Malaysian FRU (Federal Reserve Unit),
I was also filled with pride as fellow Malaysians from ethnic diversity united under one common cause
My fellow Malaysians did not need slogans – we were all united albeit many of us met for the first time
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| Military helicopter ahead |
I walked the lonely walk from KLCC to Jalan Tun Perak. There were absolutely no Malaysian around save for a few expatriates walking the opposite direction of me. As I was reaching Museum Telekom, I heard helicopters overhead, then I saw the red trucks and the FRU. It was like I was going into a war zone. When I reached Museum Telekom, suddenly a group of Malaysians appeared out of nowhere. It was like they were God sent and they were to be my guardian angels for that day. They took me under their wings without questions asked, and just like that we formed a strong common bond. We did not take notice of the differences in our ethnic backgrounds, in fact that question did not even arise – we are just Malaysians.
My guardian angels and I were tear gassed twice, the second time much worse than the first.
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| Teargas cannister shot -made by Federal Laboratories- principal USA supplier of teargas to Israeli Army! |
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| Photo by Timothy Lim |
The first time it was on the grounds of Maybank and I was forced to run away from the gas. I fell and a pair of unknown arms picked me up, a voice from behind me reassured me and asked me to walk calmly – these were the angles around me that fateful day. The effects of the tear-gas were a sharp stinging to my eyes, burning sensation to my exposed skin on my neck and arms. Then came the nausea, retching and difficulty in breathing. I was given rock salt to suck on to diminish the effects of tear-gas, wet wipes to take away the sting to my eyes as much as possible.
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| Customer fled with food untouched |
The second time we got hit by tear-gas was when we were walking towards Lai Foong coffeeshop and then suddenly canisters of tear gas began flying through the air. That was when all hell broke loose. People in the coffee shop who had ordered food fled due to effects of the gas, food were left untouched, monies left on the tables.
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| Recovering from tear-gas |
This time we were caught right in the middle of it including the coffee shop operators. I was gagging, throwing up, gasping for breath. In spite of these, all of us in the coffee shop were helping one another – handing out salt, toothpaste to be applied under our eyes, water and rubbing the backs of those retching their guts out.
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| Sitting crowd face off with FRU |
On 9th July 2011 it was very clear that the rakyat are more willing than ever to stand up and voice their rights in a peaceful manner when faced with adversity and to some extent intimidation. The rakyat walked peacefully and there were some groups who just sat there peacefully chanted "Bersih! Bersih! Hidup Bersih!".
At the same time in stark contrast, the police was heavy-handed with tear-gas fired onto fellow Malaysians who were just sitting there, and also reportedly fired into a
private hospital, raining blows onto their very own fellow Malaysians.
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| Photo by Timothy Lim |
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| Photo by Timothy Lim |
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| Photo by Timothy Lim |
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| Photo by Timothy Lim |
On Saturday, 9th July 2011, it was an amazing multi-racial diverse crowd united with one common cause. Malaysians from all walks of life from the tudung women of substance to the trendy motorbikers with bandanas to lawyers, to the ordinary men and women on the street, all walked peacefully hand in hand!
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| Is this "only 6,000"? Look here |
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| He's proud to be Malaysian |
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| He came to walk! |
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| She came alone but determined! |
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| Lawyers walking their talk :) |
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| Proudly displaying THE T-Shirt |
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| M'sian in green & friends staying put |
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| Fellow M'sians from different states |
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| Awakening of young Malaysians |
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| Her wheelchair did not stop her! |
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| Malaysians came together to walk |
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| Malaysians united |
Walk on fellow Malaysians! So proud of each and every one of you who came out on Saturday, 9th July 2011.
Joyce....was great meeting you, the spouse of one of my students. Thanks for making up the numbers.Should there be another occassion, CC and your kids will come out, yes? Thanks again...and for being brave.
ReplyDeleteHonour to walk with you, Zorro Unmasked.
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely count us in ... to be followed by cold cold beer!
It was my pleasure to make your acquaintance Joyce. I saw 2 joyces that day; the 1st one who weeped for Malaysia and the 2nd one who laughed for joy for Malaysians...
ReplyDeleteLove both joyces...
:) The pleasure is all mine, Jeevan. Honour to walk with you. :)
ReplyDelete