Malaysia: Message from behind bars

July 9, 2011
Issue 
Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj
Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj. Photo by Peter Boyle.

The message below from Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, MP for Sg Siput, was dictated to Edmund Bon and Mohd Redzuan Yusoff on July 5 at Jinjang police station.

* * *

I would like to thank everyone who is supporting us by their letters, prayers and urgent appeals, etc.

The six of us being detained under the emergency ordinance have not broken any laws and our crime is that we are socialists, and we are attempting to put the issues affecting the poorer 60% of Malaysians on the national agenda. For example, issues of hospital privatisation, and decent and minimum wages.

Our detention is totally unwarranted as we have been working within the democratic framework.

The Udahlah tu Bersaralah Campaign (pro-democracy campaign supported by a range of civil society groups) through the distribution of pamphlets calls on the people to think and vote properly in the next  national general election.

Our actions and activities are conducted totally within the democratic space allowed to us by the federal constitution.

It is however sad to see that the “higher-ups” in the police force are unable to differentiate the nation from the party of power.

To the people ― stand up for democratic rights and let us not allow this kind of intimidation hold us back!

Video: Malaysian picket in support of the PSM Six. Sunny Lim.

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