THE national monument, Tugu Negara is a symbolic place, in remembrance of the fallen soldiers who fought for Malaysia’s struggle for freedom. This morning, a group of activists from a coalition of civil society groups lay on the ground in front of the statue. The die-in, in front of the Tugu Negara is a performative demonstration that if the people fail to safeguard hard earned independence and democracy, they will not survive the climate crisis.
Their statement, ‘There is no #ClimateJustice without #FreedomOfSpeech’, was read during the gathering of 12 people without any presence of authorities. The protest led by Klima Action Malaysia is a part of the global climate strike.
In a part of their statement, they called on the government to, in today’s pressing time of climate crisis, ensure environmental rights cannot be divorced from the rights of the people; environmental rights include the need to protect natural resources such as the forests, seas, rivers and air quality; the need to include biodiversity preservation in all developmental plans; the need to develop strategies for climate mitigation; and the right to demand a stop to overdevelopment that has destroyed the environment, that has killed our plants, animals and has eroded native land and cultural rights. – March 19, 2021.
An activist holds a placard written with slogan saying no climate justice without freedom of speech during a flash mob at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.Klima Action Malaysia's activists and other civil society groups preparing the signs for a flash mob at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur as they demand freedom of speech for climate justice. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.Klima Action Malaysia's activists and other civil society groups hold placards and remain silent as they protest at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.Environmental activists lie down, pretending to be dead as one of the group reads a statement during a protest at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.An activist holds a placard to remind people to take action as he protests in front of Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur, demanding freedom of speech and climate justice. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.Placards highlighting environmental issues lie on the ground during a protest demanding freedom of speech for climate justice at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.A woman holds a placard which reads political emergency and climate emergency during a protest demanding freedom of speech for climate justice at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.Youth hold placards mentioning skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur during a protest demanding freedom of speech for climate justice at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.Activists pretending to be dead during a protest demanding freedom of speech for climate justice at Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 19, 2021.
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