'How can BN even claim to have progressed if they are even afraid of their own citizens gathering to hold candles and sing Negaraku?’

Police barricades greet anti-ISA vigils, 36 arrested

Joe: Street demonstrations in KL city centre and the burning of flags in front of foreign embassies by militants are allowed by the police. The holding of peaceful vigils and lighting of candles are prohibited.

It is evident the police are protecting the interests of the ruling clique who are abusing the ISA to persecute and jail opponents of the regime and to repress the civil rights and liberties of the people. The BN-Umno regime has turned against the rakyat using the police, who are working hand-in-glove with their political masters, to oppress the citizenry.

The ruling clique and their cronies have not only stolen and robbed the country behind our backs, they have also robbed our people of their freedom and fundamental rights. They are using ‘rule by law’ to cover up their tracks and are desperately clinging on to their power, abetted by the ‘hoods’ in blue.

This BN-Umno regime - far from transforming our nation into 1Malaysia - is fast turning Malaysia into a fascist state.

CPL: I was at Dataran Petaling Jaya. No one was threatening police. In fact, I calmly walked over to one of the two shouting police officers and asked him the reason why I had to leave the field. He refused to give me an answer, and insisted that everyone get out of the field.

He did not respect the rights of citizens. The area was a public space and he was wrong not to give the reason why the police had resorted to such action. This act confirms the public perception of police’s ignorance and arrogance.

Ice: "We had no choice. They were advancing towards us. They were challenging us," said Arjunaidi. Sounds familiar? I read these sort of statements coming from the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) many times before.

AkuMelayu: The police have a job to do. They have to think of the majority of the rakyat who wanted a peaceful nation. History has shown that candlelight vigils are the beginning of a larger and more dangerous gathering. We have seen this happened in our neighbouring countries. The recent unrest by the Red Shirts in Thailand was disastrous. Philippines has not escaped from such tragedies and so too, Indonesia.

We can see that the minority are the ones who created the chaos whereas the majority prefer peace. Singapore has proven that only strict laws can stop the 'recalcitrants'. I hope the Malaysian police will be able to keep our country peaceful because the majority of the rakyat is against demonstrations, which are easily started by such small gatherings camouflaged as 'candleight vigils'.

Jiminy Qrikert: AkuMelayu, this is what Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in response to the cow-head protest: “In this day and age, protests should be accepted in this world, as people want their voices to be heard. If we don’t give them room to voice their opinions, they have no choice but to protest.”

AkuMelayus, Umno Melayus and Hishammuddin - cakap tak serupa bikin!

Sentinel: How can BN even claim to have progressed if they are even afraid of their own citizens gathering to hold candles and sing Negaraku?

Aramsa: If only people can remember how Gandhi gather thousands and thousands of like minded compatriots to go for peaceful protest and let the police arrest them at their whims and fancy until their own hands get tired. We need civil disobedience and peaceful protests to show the BN government and the police how disgusting they are and can be.

Swipenter: The days of communist insurrection are long gone after the peace treaty was signed in Hatyai. Now even candlelight vigils are deemed dangerous and a threat to national security with the police and FRU all ready to forcefully disperse the crowd, if necessary with brutal force.

ISA is meant for terrorists and not peaceful protesters, reporters, opposition politicians, bloggers and dissidents. That is why we need to repeal the Act to prevent it from abuse and misused by the authorities like what they are doing right now.

Wira: Why can't the people protest against an unjust law?

Police stop ceramah in Rengit, seven arrested

Joe: We don't see the police disrupting the meetings and demonstrations of Perkasa, a racist supremacy organisation classified as 'militant' by the former US ambassador to Malaysia. The police don't even care to play pretend with the opposition, like the MACC. The PDRM has no illusion about its role.

The DPM condemns gangsterism in schools and calls for school gangsters to face criminal action. Before he opens his mouth, he ought to open his eyes and look within his own BN-Umno ranks. The BN-Umno regime should first check gangsterism within the Home Ministry.

FreeMalaysia: So do tell me what is new. Whenever a ceramah is held by the opposition, there will always be police abuses. But with the Selangor Umno roadshows held recently - there were no show of the police even. This is blatant double standard.

Ferdtan: The unruly cow-head demonstration was okay, but it was not okay for well-behaved PKR ceramah. Cow-head hypocrisy at best.

T he above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only Malaysiakini subscribers can post comments. Over the past six months, Malaysiakinians have posted 50,000 comments. Be part of the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .