Occupy Dataran

This article is about the weekly people's assembly in Kuala Lumpur. For the wider movement, see Occupy movement.
Occupy Dataran assembly on the 15 October 2011 global protests

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]

  1. ^ "'Occupy Dataran' demo fizzles out after less than a hundred turn up". The Star, 16 Oct 2011.
  2. ^ "Youths congregate in Kuala Lumpur in Occupy-inspired movement". China Daily, 16 Oct 2011.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Cops shoo away local 'Occupy Wall St' offshoot". Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  4. ^ "'Occupy Dataran' ends peacefully". The Sun, 16 Oct 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-11-02.
  5. ^ "New democratic occupation". The Star, 20 Nov 2011.
  6. ^ "The Great Occupation". Esquire Magazine, January 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14.
  7. ^ "'Occupy Dataran' demo fizzles out after less than a hundred turn up". The Star, 16 Oct 2011.
  8. ^ "占领独立广场运动 逾50人参与气氛平和". Kwong Wah, 16 Oct 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17.
  9. ^ "占领独立广场运动 逾50人参与气氛平和". Kwong Wah, 16 Oct 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17.
  10. ^ "'Occupy Penang' draws youthful group". Anilnetto.com. 30 Oct 2011.
  11. ^ "Occupying Kuala Lumpur". Selangor Times, 23 Dec 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Occupy Dataran Twitter page". Twitter.com. Retrieved June 20, 2012.