One student studying in the UK, Mooza Mohd recited a poem she had written in solidarity with students back home who live under the constant threat of the UUCA. It was aptly entitled ‘Imprisonment, Here and Now.’

You’re all under surveillance

You’re movement monitored

You’re every chant recorded

You’re every action documented

You’re all under suspicion

Every picket sign will be reported

And your face will be recognised

No matter how carefully you hide

There’s CCTV everywhere you are

Marking your every walking step

They know all about you

They have you on Facebook

A collection of your pictures

Taken notes on your habits

All of your history and families

They are watching you right NOW

Standing next to you, with files:

Your medical report, your CV, your secret lover,

Your history teacher, your blood type, your friends

They will know this; whenever they need to.

This is the methodology for imprisonment.

Description of the prison more & more befitting for public spaces

What’s the difference between those in prison

And those who are standing here right this instant?

What’s the difference between detention without trial

And how we live under this government & institution?

All the way from Putrajaya to Trafalgar Square

Big brother will be watching us, says Pillay

They caution our mind imposing fear

And justify with “security & protection”

Proclaiming that this form of ‘betrayal’

Could potentially be deemed as treason

This is the methodology for imprisonment.

Knowing this do we still put caution to our minds?

Put a stop to our tongues? Turn a blind eye?

They will play with our fear and paranoia

Try to put their strings to our every thought

And orchestrate their plans like a pantomime

Right Here. Right Now.

If we only realise the prison around us

And that we are left with no choice

If we only realise the prison is in our heads

The cop in our minds policing our life

And guarding our independent thought

Institution. Division. Construction. Destruction. Exploitation.

Manipulation. Racism. Segregation. Mongolians. Politicians.

Consumerism. Fascism. Domination. Religion. Capitalism.

We are all potentially capable of seeing through it all

But are we paying enough attention?

Right Here. Right Now.

Make a decision. Make a prison break.