KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—The Malaysian leg of 2008 Beijing Olympic torch relay has completed on Monday afternoon in Kuala Lumpur with heightened security, few protests and heavy rain.
Extremely tight security with 1,000 police force and prior warning by Malaysian Police Chief Musa Hassan succeeded in keeping major protests away. However, the torch relay was disrupted by heavy downpour during its stay in Kuala Lumpur Tower, causing delay and hassle.
The torch relay started at 2 p.m. from Malaysia's landmark, Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square). Malaysia Olympic Council President Imran Jaafar kicked off the Malaysian leg of the torch relay, and was quoted saying that he was proud to carry the torch. A group of Chinese students in red, carrying banners and CCP's national flag was seen in the square. CNN reported that the Chinese students' presence was arranged by the Chinese embassy.
A Japanese man, with his sister and 5 years old son were carried away by police when the Japanese man unfurled a Tibetan flag. This has caused angry pro-Beijing Olympic Chinese to shout loudly at the Japanese and thus heckled his protest.
The event's spectators were caught by surprised when they witnessed the Japanese were yelled and hit by the Chinese Olympic supporters using plastic batons. Some of the Chinese Olympic supporters even wore T-shirt with a message "Keep Politics and Violence out of Olympics" but acted rudely to people with different views. The Japanese was shielded by police and was taken away from Dataran Merdeka.
The Japanese man told reporters that he did not intend to boycott the Olympic game but just wanted to remind everybody on the true history and spirit of Olympicism. He said he loves Tibetan culture and everyone who admires Tibetan culture is able to understand his acts.
There were estimated 5 foreigners taken away by police. One Chinese monk and an England national female were caught by police for holding Tibetan flags.
Criticism on violations of human rights by the CCP has overshadowed the supposed-to-be joyous Olympic torch relay so far. The Malaysian leg of Olympic torch relay was the longest outside mainland China with total distance of 16.5 km.
The torch relay encountered lesser protesters possibly because of the Malaysian ethnic Chinese gain access to mostly pro-CCP media in the country and a weak Tibetan presence. The culture of fear for Malaysian public to protest also discourage people to support China's human right openly.
Only one Malay lady unfurled a pro-human rights banner in Dataran Merdeka. The Chinese Olympic supporters shouted rudely to her and the quarrels started by both side. The police tried to persuade her to leave but she insisted to stay in the spot.
The Olympic torch relay ended in the famous Petronas Twin Towers. The Olympic torch relay will continue in Indonesia, Australia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Vietnam before reaching Hong Kong China. The CCP banks on the Olympic torch relay with slogan "Harmonious Route" to showcase the rise of "Harmonious China" but pro-China's human rights protests have proved to be a nightmare for the regime so far.
Feeds