Occupy Dataran was an autonomous grassroots movement based in Kuala Lumpur,[1] that aims to create a platform to experiment participatory democracy based on the popular assembly model.[2] The Malaysian Insider reported that Occupy Dataran was an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street. The online news portal also reported that the Malaysian protesters were expressing solidarity with the New York protest movement as part of the 15 October 2011 global protests.[3] However, it is widely acknowledged that the first Occupy Dataran assembly was held on 30 July 2011,[4][5][6] seven weeks before Occupy Wall Street.
The movement says that it aims to "redefine democratic participation beyond representative democracy, and imagine a new political culture beyond race, ideology and political affiliation".[7] Besides this, it is also for people to get together, hang out, organize activities & spend the night at Dataran Merdeka. Participants of Occupy Dataran gathered every Saturday from 8pm - 6am at Dataran Merdeka.[8] Part of Occupy Dataran is the "KL People's Assembly" where participants gather to share ideas, address problems, explore alternatives, propose solutions and make decisions. It is also open to other activities.[9]
Since October 2011, the movement had spread to Penang with Occupy Penang[10] and other new occupations in Kota Bharu, Johor Bahru, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Dungun and Batu Pahat.[11]
As of June 2012, Occupy Dataran had continued to engage in organized meetings, events and actions.[12]
Background
Occupy Dataran started on July 30, 2011,[13] with a group of people who were inspired by the 15-M Movement[14] and the 2011 Spanish protests.[15] The first Occupy Dataran was planned to coincide with the EO6 overnight vigil organised by civil society groups, which was later canceled due to the release of the EO6.[16] Nevertheless, Occupy Dataran continued.
The following Saturday, August 6, the first official KL People’s Assembly took place.[17] The procedures and basic structures were discussed and agreed upon based on a collective agreement or consensus. Some rules include that the Assembly would be structured in a horizontal and non-hierarchical manner without a leader or governing body,[18]
KL People's Assembly
According to the official Facebook page, the KL People's Assembly aims to be "an open, egalitarian and democratic platform for people to share ideas, address problems, explore alternatives, propose solutions and make decisions on any issues collectively through consensus decision-making and direct participatory democratic processes".[20] It starts from 8pm to 11pm, every Saturday.[21]
The Assembly is structured in a horizontal and non-hierarchical manner with no leader or governing council.[22] All members of the Assembly have equal standing and rights. The procedures, processes and ground rules were discussed and agreed upon collectively by the Assembly during their first meeting on 6 August 2011 based on a Consensus decision-making process.[23]
The Assembly is facilitated by a moderator[24]
Other Activities
Besides the KL People's Assembly, Occupy Dataran is also an open platform for people to run activities or hang out. Activities usually commence after the Assembly has ended. Previous activities include workshops, games, potluck picnics, music performances, poetry reading and more.[33]
15 October Assembly
As part of the 15 October 2011 global protests, Occupy Dataran held a 12-hour program at Dataran Merdeka on the same day starting from 4:00pm. Over 200 people[34] attended 15 October's Occupy Dataran, the largest since it started.[35]
The following morning, The Malaysian Insider reported that Occupy Dataran is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.[36] However, the first Occupy Dataran assembly was held on 30 July 2011,[37] one and a half months before the first Occupy Wall Street assembly.
V for Merdeka Flash Mob Protest on New Year's Eve
On New Year's Eve, 200 people participated in a "V for Merdeka" flash mob protest at Dataran Merdeka organized by Occupy Dataran wearing the Guy Fawkes mask, a symbol of popular resistance that have appeared in many Occupy protests around the world.[38] They were protesting against the Peaceful Assembly Bill, a piece of legislation enacted by the Malaysian government that bans street demonstrations and against the injustices that they saw happened in Malaysia throughout 2011.[39][40]
See also
Occupy articles
Related articles
- List of global Occupy movement protest locations
- "Occupy" protests
- Timeline of Occupy Wall Street
- We are the 99%
- 15 October 2011 global protests
- 2011 Spanish protests
- Consensus decision-making
- Direct democracy
- Participatory democracy
- Popular Assembly
External links
References
- 'Occupy Dataran' demo fizzles out after less than a hundred turn up The Star, 16 Oct 2011^
- Youths congregate in Kuala Lumpur in Occupy-inspired movement China Daily, 16 Oct 2011^
- Cops shoo away local 'Occupy Wall St' offshoot