MOCS..”Shifting goalposts”

Francis Siah must have been quivering when he saw the 5 uniformed policeman approaching him when he landed at Kuching International airport. A friend who met him on arrival shook his hands and he told us,”my gosh, his hands were as cold as ice.Looks as if he feared the worst.”

Francis himself has even mentioned in his email”I have never been imprisoned in my life and I don’t wish to spend even a night in a police lock-up. The two things that make it impossible for me to sleep are heat and mosquitoes. I need a good night’s rest because I’m not particularly healthy. I’m still nursing a heart ailment and also suffer from hypertension and high cholesterol” 

It seems too that over the pasts few weeks Francis have been having nightmares. Why is this so? He really has shifted his goalposts once too often until some local opposition leaders and NGOs are beginning to question his motives. He can say what he wants but from a RALLY TO ASK TAIB TO STEP DOWN BY AUGUST 13th to WALK FOR DEMOCRACY and REFORM (route central padang to waterfront and back) and now to giving WREATHS TO FALLEN HEROES (but standing rally and stationed at the Cenotaph at the museum grounds)     

A Bersih 2.0 supporter even said,’We have already declared Saturday as Yellow Saturday and Francis Siah has told everyone to wear RED. So do we have to comply with Morning yellow Afternoon Red ?. It seems we will be like the UMNO Youth Red Coloured T-shirts in the end(never mind Francis saying Liverpool or MU). Francis might also next be saying he is supporting KJ’s Patriot movement who wore Red during the bersih rally.

Could it be thats the reason Ambiga invited Francis and his sidekick to the steering committee meeting last thursday night. She wants to hear from Francis he is very much still Yellow and not Red.

We have also gathered that there are some unhappiness especially so with Francis flip-flops of rally intentions but a number of activists have indicated that they will be present in some capacity. Our political police sources at the time of writing 3.05pm even mentioned that the permit is not yet approved and some people who gather there will be inconvenienced.(One should know what it means)

Some of the activists and supporters are not so afraid of being taken in by the police. They say any other day not much to worry about when they mentioned to audie61. 14th August 2011  is the day of the Chinese Hungry Ghosts festival and if they are “so very lucky“they might be picked up. Its not such a good day, one told us and they know might be kept in for investigation for a period of not more than 48hours. Bail will not be entertained as its a Saturday and any bail will only be done if charged in court on Mondays. So you see, we need to see the situation.

Did Francis Siah checked his diary and thought of all this? It clearly shows he is trying to get everyone worked up to pursue his personal agenda or someone who is bankrolling the rally. Whatever it is Francis has really shifted the goal posts , flip- flopped and the police might justs decide to bring him in, allow him to meet and even say “hello” to a number of “outer world friends”

Would you bet they wouldn’t..??

“Rally in Red August 13th..??”

our correspondent from Sabah said “The sms and emails have started to flood the cyberspace in Sabah and the whole world will know soon. August 13th seems to be the chosen date for this Rally in Kuching Sarawak and it will be organised by Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). Khairy Jamaluddin had the T-shirts Patriot in Red and now MOCS also have it in Red as one can see from the statement attached below. 

Bugi says,”Yellow is the colour now which is deemed illegal and so afraid by UMNO/BN. It was once Green(associated with PAS) Orange (Hindraf)  and also Black (Teoh Beng Hock) Next RED shirts will be banned too but by whom..??

WE SHALL SEE WHAT HAPPENS…

MoCS will hold a ‘Rally for democracy and reforms in Sarawak’ on Saturday, August 13 in Kuching.

 The movement’s leaders who met in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday have decided to tone down the event – originally planned as an anti-Taib rally – to ‘A walk for democracy and reforms’.

MoCS will dutifully apply for a police permit for the event. We assure the police that it will be a peaceful rally and we will heed any reasonable advice/demands from them. We will extend our fullest cooperation to all law enforcement agencies in the state capital to ensure no untoward incidents on that day.

 The event will be from 2-5pm. We hope to gather either at Padang Merdeka or Kuching Waterfront and then walk to either Reservoir Park or Museum Grounds where we will hold the rally. By 5pm, everyone should disperse. This is our commitment to the police.

This rally is a compromised version of the original street protests in forcing long-serving Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to step down.

 In our sincere efforts to adopt a non-confrontational approach, we invite all patriotic citizens, even leaders and supporters of the government, to join us in demanding urgent changes and reforms in the governance of Sarawak for the betterment of our beloved home state and people.

 For too long, the state has been trapped in a quagmire of widespread corruption and the politics of fear and intimidation. We wish to educate all Sarawakians that politicians whom they elected to public office should be there to serve them and not vice-versa. The people are the masters, not those who govern.

 When those who govern do wrong by abusing their power, it is the people’s duty and responsibility to vote them out. While we must be patriotic to our country and loyal to our government, it is also patriotism and loyalty to get rid of bad leaders and bad governments.

 MoCS also supports Bersih’s simple message to the government – give us free and fair elections, true democracy and a better future for our children.

 The movement will issue a 10-point declaration at the rally on August 13.

 MoCS stresses that the rally is solely a citizen’s initiative with no political affiliation or involvement. Nonetheless, we welcome all concerned citizens, whether they are apolitical or politicians, to participate in the rally.

 MoCS will not be campaigning for support from any established groups for the rally. We prefer spontaneous and voluntary support from all who care and love their state and nation and who earnestly want to help bring about genuine reforms.

MoCS is also encouraging those who are unable to come to Kuching and those living in other parts of the state and country and even overseas to organise similar walks in solidarity with their fellow citizens and friends in Kuching.

 The Aug 13 event will be a RED rally. All participants are encouraged to come in red – the theme colour of MoCS.

Francis Paul Siah

Leader, MoCS

13^th July, 2011