Occupy Dataran

Occupy Dataran started on July 30, 2011,{{cite web|title='Occupy Dataran' ends peacefully|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/178302|publisher=The Sun, 16 Oct 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102142151/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/178302|archive-date=2011-11-02}} with a group of people who were inspired by the 15-M Movement{{cite web|title=大马人反应差 十多人"占领"独立广场|url=http://www.nanyang.com/node/390508?tid=460|publisher=Nanyang Siang Pau, 16 Oct 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404094119/http://www.nanyang.com/node/390508?tid=460|archive-date=2012-04-04}} and the 2011 Spanish protests.{{cite news|title=Occupy Protests Spread to Malaysia|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/10/15/occupy-protests-spread-to-malaysia/?mod=google_news_blog|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=15 October 2011}} 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.{{cite web |title=EO6 Release - Victory to the people |author=S. Arutchelvan |date=30 July 2011 |work=Parti Sosialis Malaysia|access-date=29 October 2011 |url=http://parti-sosialis.org/en/node/1959 }} Nevertheless, Occupy Dataran continued.

The following Saturday, August 6, the first official KL People’s Assembly took place.{{cite web|title=占领独立广场运动 逾50人参与气氛平和|url=http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2011/10/15/104.html|publisher=Kwong Wah, 16 Oct 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117034856/http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2011/10/15/104.html|archive-date=2011-11-17}} 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,{{cite web|title=數十民眾"佔領"獨立廣場‧10警員監督沒阻止集會|url=http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/223354?tid=1|publisher=Sin Chew Daily, 16 Oct 2011}} a weekly rotation of assembly moderators and that each vote is equal and everyone’s voice is heard.{{cite web|title=New democratic occupation|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F11%2F20%2Fnation%2F9942775&sec=nation|publisher=The Star, 20 Nov 2011}}

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".{{cite web|title=Youths congregate in Kuala Lumpur in Occupy-inspired movement|url=http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2011-10-16/content_4075723.html|publisher=China Daily, 16 Oct 2011}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} It starts from 8pm to 11pm, every Saturday.{{cite web|title=大马人反应差 十多人"占领"独立广场|url=http://www.nanyang.com/node/390508?tid=460|publisher=Nanyang Siang Pau, 16 Oct 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404094119/http://www.nanyang.com/node/390508?tid=460|archive-date=2012-04-04}}

The Assembly is structured in a horizontal and non-hierarchical manner with no leader or governing council.{{cite web|title=數十民眾"佔領"獨立廣場‧10警員監督沒阻止集會|url=http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/223354?tid=1|publisher=Sin Chew Daily, 16 Oct 2011}} 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.{{cite journal|last=Dataran|first=Occupy|title=Occupy Dataran 15.10.11 Information Flyer|date=2011-10-15|pages=1}}{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

The Assembly is facilitated by a moderator{{cite web|title='Occupy Dataran' ends peacefully|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/178302|publisher=The Sun, 16 Oct 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102142151/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/178302|archive-date=2011-11-02}} that is weekly rotated. Other roles that are weekly rotated are minute-takers, time-keepers, photo documenters and info person. Every member of the Assembly is free to express an opinion or propose an idea to be discussed and voted upon during Assembly.{{cite journal|last=Dataran|first=Occupy|title=Occupy Dataran 15.10.11 Information Flyer|date=2011-10-15|pages=1}}{{cite web|title=New democratic occupation|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F11%2F20%2Fnation%2F9942775&sec=nation|publisher=The Star, 20 Nov 2011}}

The Assembly usually begins by accepting topic proposals from members for discussion or debate. Topics that are voted and passed by everyone will set the agenda for an Assembly. Members take turns to speak by raising their hands and getting speaking approval from the moderator. If the discussion for a topic exceeds the allotted 20 minutes, the Assembly would then decide whether the topic should be extended for another 10 minutes or moved to a working group. Everyone is invited to join the working group which will meet outside of the Assembly period. The findings from the working group will be presented at the next Assembly to be debated. They avoid using delegates or representatives to make decisions for the Assembly. The final decision rests with the Assembly. The allotted 20 minutes per topic allows participants to discuss, debate and come up with proposals to be voted on.{{cite web|title=Occupying Kuala Lumpur|url=http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=insight&permalink=20111223105353-occupying-kuala-lumpur|publisher=Selangor Times, 23 Dec 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312143144/http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=insight&permalink=20111223105353-occupying-kuala-lumpur|archive-date=12 March 2012|url-status=dead}}

The Assembly makes decisions through consensus to ensure that all opinions, ideas and concerns are taken into account before committing to a collective decision that work for everyone. Voting is done through the show of hand signals. Currently, a proposal is passed when there are no blocks from the Assembly during voting. Members who block a proposal are required to provide a justification.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

Hand signals are used to express opinions during deliberation and to vote. This silent expression is used to avoid shouting and disrupting a speaker.{{cite web|title=Occupying Kuala Lumpur|url=http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=insight&permalink=20111223105353-occupying-kuala-lumpur|publisher=Selangor Times, 23 Dec 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312143144/http://www.selangortimes.com/index.php?section=insight&permalink=20111223105353-occupying-kuala-lumpur|archive-date=12 March 2012|url-status=dead}}

After a proposal is passed by consensus, the Assembly will form a working group to implement the decision and carry out the task of planning for action.{{cite web|title=New democratic occupation|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F11%2F20%2Fnation%2F9942775&sec=nation|publisher=The Star, 20 Nov 2011}} Some decisions that have been turned into action includes the "I love Capitalism Film Week",{{cite web|title=I Love Capitalism!|url=http://seayouthsayso.com/i-love-capitalism|work=SEA Youth Say So|publisher=SEA Youth Say So|access-date=12 October 2011}} the Occupy Parlimen protests to oppose the Peaceful Assembly Bill{{cite web|title=Newly-passed assembly law sparks tiny protest|url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/newly-passed-assembly-law-sparks-tiny-protest/|publisher=The Malaysian Insider, 29 Nov 2011}} and the Shangri-La street theatre protest.{{cite web|title=New democratic occupation|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F11%2F20%2Fnation%2F9942775&sec=nation|publisher=The Star, 20 Nov 2011}}

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.{{cite web|title=Youths congregate in Kuala Lumpur in Occupy-inspired movement|url=http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2011-10-16/content_4075723.html|publisher=China Daily, 16 Oct 2011}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} Over 200 people{{cite news|title=Singapore leads Asian reticence in denouncing corporate greed|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-protests-asia-idUSTRE79F08O20111016|publisher=Reuters, 16 Oct 2011 | date=16 October 2011}} attended 15 October's Occupy Dataran, the largest since it started.[http://malaysiakini.com/news/178797 'Occupy Dataran' group dispersed by police] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018110413/http://malaysiakini.com/news/178797 |date=2011-10-18 }}, Malaysiakini, 16 Oct 2011

The following morning, The Malaysian Insider reported that Occupy Dataran is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.{{Cite web |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/cops-shoo-away-local-occupy-wall-st-offshoot/ |title=Cops shoo away local 'Occupy Wall St' offshoot |access-date=2011-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017075301/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/cops-shoo-away-local-occupy-wall-st-offshoot/ |archive-date=2011-10-17 |url-status=dead }} However, the first Occupy Dataran assembly was held on 30 July 2011,{{cite web|title='Occupy Dataran' ends peacefully|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/178302|publisher=The Sun, 16 Oct 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102142151/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/178302|archive-date=2011-11-02}} one and a half months before the first Occupy Wall Street assembly.

File:V for Merdeka flash mob protest on New Year's Eve.jpg during the flash mob]]

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.{{cite web|title=200 in Guy Fawkes masks march against Assembly Bill|url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/185402|publisher=Malaysiakini, 1 Jan 2012}} 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.{{cite web|title=Group plans 'Guy Fawkes gathering' to protest against injustices|url=http://www.mmail.com.my/content/88142-‘v-merdeka’-eve-2012|publisher=Malaysiakini, 29 Dec 2011}}{{cite web|title=Flash Mob V for Vendetta Turun 'Menakluk' Dataran Merdeka|url=http://www.tvsnews.net/index.php?q9nan56SpKPkoObnaNGXpVvZn7Wka5JjbA=%3D|publisher=TVS News, 1 Jan 2012}}

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Occupy articles

• List of global Occupy movement protest locations
• "Occupy" protests
• Timeline of Occupy Wall Street
• We are the 99%

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Related articles

• 15 October 2011 global protests
• 2011 Spanish protests
• Consensus decision-making
• Direct democracy
• Participatory democracy
• Popular Assembly

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{{Subject bar|portal1=Society|portal3=Politics|portal4=Business and economics|portal5=Malaysia}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://facebook/occupydataran Occupy Dataran Official Facebook Page]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://twitter.com/occupydataran @occupydataran - Official Twitter]
• [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/20/focus/9942775&sec=focus New democratic occupation - Comment about assembly culture of Occupy Movement which started in Malaysia] by The Star [http://thestar.com.my]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E78M_b8YYo YouTube video clip, advertising the Occupy Dataran Saturday assemblies] Aug. 13th 2011

{{Occupy movement}}

{{Malaysian protests and rallies}}

Dataran

Category:Nonviolent resistance movements

Category:Protests in Malaysia

Category:Political movements in Malaysia