2009 anti-ISA rally

2009 rally in Kuala Lumpur The Anti-ISA Rally, also known as the MANSUH Rally, was a demonstration held on 1 August 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, organised by the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI). The rally called for the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA), the release of detainees and the closure of the Kamunting detention camp. Demonstrators planned to march to Istana Negara to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.2009-07-29 Himpunan ISA: Polis beri amaran batalkan rancangan - Semasa https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2009/07/29/himpunan-isa-polis-beri-amaran-batalkan-rancangan mStar msAnti-ISA: 20,000 sertai, 589 ditangkap https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/109708 Malaysiakini 1 August 2009 ms The demonstration coincided with a planned pro-ISA gathering organised by the Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah (Pewaris) and other organisations. Police did not issue permits for the planned gatherings, citing concerns about possible clashes. On the day of the rally, police dispersed demonstrators using tear gas and water cannons and detained hundreds of participants.Protest crackdown draws flak https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/109755 Malaysiakini 2 August 2009 Background The Internal Security Act 1960 was a Malaysian preventive detention law that permitted detention without trial under specified circumstances. Its use became controversial among opposition parties, lawyers and human rights organisations, which argued that the law restricted civil liberties and allowed detention without adequate judicial oversight. The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) campaigned for the repeal of the act and the release of detainees held under it. In April 2008, GMI and the Malaysian Bar's Human Rights Committee presented a joint memorandum calling for the abolition of the ISA and other preventive detention laws.Abolish the ISA and all preventive detention legislation https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/about-us/committees/human-rights/abolish-the-isa-and-all-preventive-detention-legislation The Malaysian Bar 30 April 2008 GMI organised the 1 August demonstration under the leadership of its chairman, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh. The movement formally announced the planned rally in June 2009, with the intention of mobilising a large crowd to demand the repeal of the ISA.GMI lancar demo anti-ISA 1 Ogos https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/106973 Malaysiakini 22 June 2009 ms The organisers initially aimed to gather approximately 100,000 people at several locations in Kuala Lumpur, including Masjid Jamek, the Sogo shopping complex and the National Mosque, before marching to Istana Negara to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The rally had been postponed several times and received support from Pakatan Rakyat and non-governmental organisations concerned with human rights. Student organisations also expressed support for the demonstration.GMI seru Pewaris 'guna laluan lain' https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/109046 Malaysiakini 22 July 2009 ms GMI's demands included the abolition of the ISA, the release of detainees held under the act and the closure of the Kamunting detention camp in Taiping. Participants were expected to assemble at several locations, including Sogo, Masjid Jamek and KL Sentral, before proceeding towards Istana Negara. Pro-ISA rally On 22 July 2009, Pewaris and ten Malay non-governmental organisations announced plans to hold a procession on 1 August. The proposed route ran from Central Market to Merdeka Square and then to Istana Negara. The organisers supported retaining the ISA, in contrast to GMI's demand for its abolition. The planned gathering at Central Market was scheduled to begin at 11:30 am under the theme "1Malaysia, Save Malaysia, Retain the ISA and Defend the Special Rights of the Malays". Approximately 3,000 participants were expected to gather before proceeding to Merdeka Square, where they planned to sign a petition on a banner measuring 200 feet in length and submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. GMI chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh urged the pro-ISA group to use a different route or hold its demonstration on another date to avoid a confrontation between the two groups. Pewaris's second deputy president was Rahimuddin Md Harun. Other organisations supporting the retention of the ISA included the Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Pekida) and the Gabungan Graduan Melayu Muda (GGMM). Police response and arrests On 28 July 2009, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman announced that police permits had not been issued for either gathering because of concerns that the groups might encounter one another and create tensions. Police planned to establish roadblocks and warned that organisers and individuals suspected of involvement could be arrested. The planned gatherings were considered by police to contravene Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1967 because permission had not been granted.Himpunan ISA: Polis beri amaran batalkan rancangan - Semasa https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2009/07/29/himpunan-isa-polis-beri-amaran-batalkan-rancangan mStar 29 July 2009 ms On 1 August, thousands of people gathered at locations including Masjid Jamek, the National Mosque, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Sogo shopping complex and the PAS headquarters on Jalan Raja Laut. Participants included People's Justice Party (PKR) adviser Anwar Ibrahim and Democratic Action Party (DAP) adviser Lim Kit Siang. Contemporary reports estimated the anti-ISA crowd at approximately 15,000 to 20,000 people, although estimates varied between reports. Police, including the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), dispersed demonstrators using tear gas and water cannons at several locations in central Kuala Lumpur, including the Sogo shopping complex and the area around Masjid Jamek. Police also established roadblocks and closed roads leading to parts of the city centre. GMI was unable to deliver its memorandum directly to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the demonstration. The pro-ISA procession was also disrupted. Pewaris cancelled its planned march to Istana Negara and indicated that representatives would submit a memorandum supporting the ISA. Reports differed over whether the memorandum was formally delivered to the palace. Malaysiakini reported that pro-ISA representative Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz had handed the memorandum to a palace guard, while a subsequent report in mStar quoted police denying that the memorandum had been formally submitted to Istana Negara.ISA: Polis nafi Magaran serah Istana memorandum Mohd Khairul Azam, legal adviser to the Majlis Gabungan Badan Bukan Kerajaan Pembela Negara (Magaran), was reported to have been arrested at approximately 7 pm after approaching the gates of Istana Negara to submit a memorandum calling for the retention of the ISA. Police reported detaining a total of 589 people, including 44 juveniles, during the demonstration. The Malaysian Bar also reported that 589 people had been arrested and described efforts by volunteer lawyers to monitor arrests and provide legal assistance during remand hearings and bail applications. According to the Bar, 18 people were remanded after hearings on 2 August, while others were released without remand orders.Legal Aid and Assistance to those Arrested in the Anti-ISA Protest on 1 August 2009 https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/bar-news/news/legal-aid-and-assistance-to-those-arrested-in-the-anti-isa-protest-on-1-august-2009 The Malaysian Bar 20 August 2009 The arrests and the use of tear gas and water cannons drew criticism from opposition politicians and human rights campaigners. Critics questioned the use of force against demonstrators, while the government defended the police response on security grounds. Legal proceedings On 3 August 2009, 29 people were brought before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court following the arrests. According to the Malaysian Bar, 16 were charged in connection with participation in an unauthorised assembly, while another 13 faced charges relating to the distribution of T-shirts for an unregistered society, GMI. The court granted bail to those charged with participating in the assembly and to those accused in connection with the T-shirts. On 4 September 2009, 13 GMI supporters maintained their pleas of not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to an alternative charge of attempting to participate in an unauthorised assembly under Section 27(5)(a) of the Police Act 1967. The provision carried a penalty of up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of up to RM10,000 upon conviction. The 13 individuals had originally been accused of supplying six long-sleeved red T-shirts for use at the demonstration on 1 August along Jalan Kinabalu, near the National Mosque. The original charge was reported to carry a penalty of up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to RM3,000.Demo ISA: 13 penyokong GMI kekal pengakuan tidak bersalah https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2009/09/05/demo-isa-13-penyokong-gmi-kekal-pengakuan-tidak-bersalah mStar 5 September 2009 ms In a separate case involving 16 people arrested during the demonstration, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court found the defendants guilty of participating in an unlawful assembly on 22 February 2012. Eleven defendants who were present were sentenced to one day's imprisonment and fined RM2,000 each. The court deferred sentencing for five others who were absent, and they were sentenced on 21 March 2012 to one day's imprisonment and a RM2,000 fine each. The defendants were granted stays of execution of their prison sentences pending appeal.16 anti-ISA protesters guilty of illegal assembly https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/189888 Malaysiakini 22 February 2012Five found guilty of taking part in anti-ISA assembly https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/192756 Malaysiakini 21 March 2012 Aftermath On 15 September 2011, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that the government would repeal the Internal Security Act and introduce replacement legislation. The announcement formed part of a wider set of proposed legal and political reforms, although the government rejected claims that the decision was solely the result of opposition or civil-society campaigns.Two new laws to replace Internal Security Act https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/175956 Malaysiakini 15 September 2011Mansuh ISA Keputusan BN - Najib https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2011/09/17/mansuh-isa-keputusan-bn--najib mStar 17 September 2011 ms The ISA was subsequently repealed and replaced by the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.ISA repeal next March, says PM https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/177358 Malaysiakini 30 September 2011 See also Human rights in Malaysia Internal Security Act 1960 2011 Bersih 2.0 rally References Category:Protests in Malaysia Category:2009 in Malaysia Category:2009 protests