Time for change

Letters

by Ong

Dear Mr. Lim,

I’m a 29-year old Penangite, and I’ve been in the U.S. for over 10 years.  I did not get a JPA scholarship or any government scholarships, but I was offered almost a free ride to five top-tier schools in the U.S. (Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Middlebury, Wesleyan (Freeman Asian Scholarship), and Dartmouth).  I chose Wellesley where I received an amazing education (I met Nat Tan who was then at Harvard), and then worked in economic consulting in Boston for a few years, before starting a Ph.D. in Economics at Brown University.

My father was a businessman (and not a rich taukeh, mind you) and my mother, a primary school teacher.  Growing up, money was always tight.  Yet they managed to send four out of five daughters on to pursue their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in top 50 universities in the U.S.  How did we do it?  It was neither through government scholarships, nor through Father-Mother Scholarships, but through the generous financial aid of U.S. institutions and the contributions of relatives.  Not surprisingly, of the four, one is in London, and three are in the U.S.

As a teenager in the 1990s, my only news outlet was mainstream newspapers, e.g., The Star, which as you well know, was effectively taken over in the 1980’s by the government.  I recall being irked by the low quality of the newspaper — I would deem the standard of writing equivalent to that of a Standard Six student.  Coverage of local events, such as the planting of a tree, would revolve around xyz politician saying so and so.  More annoying was that on day one, you would have Mahathir saying blah blah blah.  On day two, you’ll have several politicians parroting Mahathir’s views, saying “Mahathir said blah blah blah so blah blah blah.”  And so on and so forth for the next few days.  Did these so-called leaders have no thoughts or ideas of their own?  It would seem that they, sememangnya, are incapable of such.  Sadly enough, the quality of the media has hardly improved, but that is another story for another day.

Only after leaving Malaysia did I slowly realize how oppressed and repressed we had been (and still are).  Part of it may have been a natural maturation process that comes with age.  A bigger part, I think, comes from being taken entirely out of the country, and placed in a new context where I was exposed to people from different countries, with different experiences and different ideas.  Perhaps more importantly, I realized that I used to identify as a Chinese in Malaysia, but now that I was out of Malaysia, my identity evolved to that of a Malaysian … period.

The results of the March 2008 elections were unexpected, to say the least.  Who would have thought it was possible?  I have to admit that that was the first time I ever thought that one day, maybe one day I can go back to my country.  Before then, it was not even a consideration … why return to a country where I’ll be treated as a second-class citizen?

Since 2008, the political sandiwara, parasitical leeching, and blatant thievery have continued, and in fact, intensified.  At the same time, there is an awakening of the rakyat.  The mantle of fear and oppression is being cast off.  And we now have hope for the future.

I just wanted to thank you for fighting for our country, for speaking up when few would do so, for being a staunch opposition-er for decades.  How much easier would it have been to fold in with the ruling party, to accept the accolades and bodek-ing and titles and easy money.  I thank God for people like you who are willing to stand up to make a difference.  And now you’ve paved the way for many, many people, young and old, to do the same.

I will be at the Bersih rally in Boston on Saturday.  Those of us outside Malaysia have it easy.  We just have to show up and sembang with fellow Malaysians.  I pray for those of you in Malaysia, for God’s protection over all of you.  I’m praying for our country, and for the new generation of leaders that God will rise up.  God bless you.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 April 2012, 2:47 pm and is filed under
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Use of thugs, gangsters, hooligans a very dangerous trend

— Tota

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 26, 2012

APRIL 26 — Umno Baru has a lengthy catalogue of lawless behaviour. It appears that the rule of law is a stranger to Umno Baru. When Justice Harun declared Umno illegal, the party died.

The new party is registered as Umno Baru; yet the party continues to call itself Umno! The party logo was supposed to be a new one; yet the old logo with some imperceptible cosmetic change continues to be used. The keris on its logo has given rise to detractors calling it a party of pirates! The keris has come in useful for Umno leaders to threaten the non-Malays. Umno leaders have brandished the keris and used implicit threats.

Concerned individuals and groups have alleged that Umno Baru has let loose its mobs and thugs all too frequently to disrupt, sometimes violently, legitimately organised meetings and forums by civil society groups and NGOs. The Apcet 11 forum at a hotel in KL was disrupted by an Umno Baru mob that threatened the participants and smashed tables and chairs to stop the proceedings. When the Suqiu organisation submitted its 17-point plan for the betterment of the country, an Umno Baru mob threatened them with “rivers of blood” outside the Chinese Assembly Hall, KL, if they did not withdraw their 17-point plan.

Umno Baru used similar tactics to stop the Article 11 Group from holding meetings and the Bar Council forum on the conversion of minors to Islam when one spouse in a non-Muslim marriage converts to Islam. Police inaction emboldened the Umno thugs even to prevent Karpal from entering Parliament House. An Umno Baru mob led by a screaming hooligan, Khairy, outside the US Embassy advertised to the whole world that Umno Baru is a party trapped in the Stone Age.

The rule of law is obviously not part of Umno Baru culture. While proclaiming to the whole world that “demonstrasi luar kebudayaan kita”, Umno Baru and its allies have, since March 8, 2008, organised numerous illegal demonstrations in Pakatan-ruled states. Criminal intimidation is part and parcel of Umno Baru’s political strategy.

What kind of mentality, culture and religion must a person have to send a coffin or an excreta-shaped cake to Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang? On every occasion these thugs have got away scot-free without any action by the police who appear to be conniving and colluding with the thugs.

Perhaps the worst case of Umno Baru lawlessness is the power grab of the Perak state government.  The behaviour of the BN assembly members when the Pakatan Rakyat Speaker was forcibly removed was disgraceful. BN’s action was unethical, immoral and defeated the will of the people who had voted for a Pakatan Rakyat government to rule them.

Now a new phenomenon has lifted its ugly head in the political arena — the use of thugs, gangsters and hooligans to intimidate and frighten, sometimes violently, civil society and NGOs carrying out their legitimate activities. Dissenters, protesters and even opposition leaders have become victims of these thugs.

The PSM EO6 support group was threatened by thugs when they gathered outside the Kepala Batas police station. The police refused to give them protection and it was PAS that came to their rescue.

Students holding a meeting in Klang on a Saturday night were attacked by 20 thugs, according to student activist Ehsan Bukharee. The police only told the students to cancel their meeting. The ABU (Anything But Umno) movement meeting at the Shah Alam City Council hall was attacked by a mob on Monday, January 24, 2012.

Recently, people who participated in the Himpunan Hijau programmes all over Malaysia were attacked by thugs. Anwar’s car was attacked in Johor. Nurul Izzah’s car was attacked in Pahang.

At the Penang Esplanade, Lim Guan Eng and his car came under attack, allegedly by Perkasa thugs. It was alleged the police stood by and watched the violence without taking action.

The recent attack on students camping at Dataran Merdeka is indeed shocking. Fifty thugs dressed in black beat up the students in the dead of night. Their struggle for free education is a legitimate one: 19 countries in the world provide free education. Why can’t Malaysia?

One does not have to be a rocket scientist to know who or which party is unleashing these mindless thugs to bark or bite at the bidding of their masters. If there is a poverty of brainpower in a political party from top to bottom, they will refuse to engage in the battle of the mind with anyone. Such a political party is indeed pitiable. Because it lacks brainpower, the only weapon in its arsenal is brawn power.

I hope and pray that the Bersih 3.0 Duduk Bantah at Dataran Merdeka does not provide a golden opportunity for thugs, gangsters and hooligans to do their worst. — aliran.com

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 April 2012, 4:48 pm and is filed under
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Why I am going for Bersih

by T H Liew

    I believe that IF our nation practices TRUE democracy, then our    citizens will be better off.

    However, I feel that our nation has gradually become a one-party    state, with the ruling political party having a hold on virtually    ALL of the bodies which are supposed to be independent in a true    democracy, but are not.

    The mass media (printed, electronic) are controlled; the police and    anti-corruption agency do not seem to act impartially; the judiciary    appears tainted esp at the upper echelons. Under these    circumstances, how are we to practice true democracy?

    Had these bodies been truly independent, then the ruling government    will be more just, and more sensitive, to the needs and rights of    the citizens.

    The one-party system which has thus evolved since Merdeka, now has    become too powerful, and with such great power, comes the    opportunity for great corruption. It would seem that those in power    have not let such opportunity slip by. This has led to a situation    where our country is headed for a fall – economically, socially, and    morally.

    Policies which benefit cronies at the expense of rakyat; uncountable    financial scandals; VKLingam judge-fixing; Teoh Beng Hock death;    allegations against AG & IGP; Altantuya murder; religious discord;    racist officials; unrighteous detentions and deaths in detention –    all these are mere examples of a nation gone wrong but yet nothing    is done by those in power to resolve them. I can only foresee things    getting worse rather than improving.

    In seeking a change of government, I am NOT recommending any violent    overthrow of such a government, but instead am for a peaceful legal    rejection of such a government at the ballot box.

    Unfortunately, it seems that the election system, and even the    Election Commission, seems to be biased in favour of the ruling    coalition.

    So how are we to even remove such an unfair government at the polls?

    It is only through a truly free and fair elections that this can be    achieved.

    And if my participation in Bersih is one tiny step in this    direction, it is something I want to do. It is something I need to    do.

    I feel that I am also doing it for the good of those others who also    need it, but do not understand it yet. There are many who are too    interested in short-term comforts, or have been ingrained through    years of scare-tactics, to realise that the long term ramifications    of prolonging this one-party system in power, is much worse.

    So, if you read this, and understand the need, perhaps you too, will    join me in Bersih this Saturday 28th April 2012.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 26 April 2012, 9:09 pm and is filed under
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Bersih 3.0 Down Under

— Mary O’Donovan

The Malaysian Insider

 Apr 27, 2012

APRIL 27 — As the Australian girl who organised Bersih 2.0 in my hometown of Brisbane, Australia; I have sat back and watched the discussion about Bersih 3.0 with great scepticism.

Among my reasons for taking a step back, I told everyone that my studies must take precedence as I am in my final semester at law school. I told the Australian organisers that I thought it was better to have a Malaysian at the forefront of Brisbane’s Bersih 3.0.

Although this was all true, I think my reasons for taking a step back ran deeper. I couldn’t help but feel cynical about all of us coming together again, when no results conducive to change became readily apparent last time.

What will be different this time, what difference did all that time and energy I put into 2.0 make? Perhaps I feel a bit jaded. Did anything change at all with the world coming together to denounce the government’s actions the last time? I began to question if Bersih was ever going to make change happen?

Fortunately, not everyone else has given up hope. Fortunately, not everyone else thought we wouldn’t be heard. Fortunately, many people believe that we must keep moving forward until these changes become apparent.

I don’t know why, but something happened this morning that made me realise that I mustn’t give up hope for my Malaysian friends. I wasn’t sure if it was the realisation that the Malaysian government will continue to be corrupt until they realise they will be held accountable for their actions. Or perhaps it was the realisation that as a whole, we, both Malaysians and non-Malaysians alike, must continue to come together until these changes sought are implemented.

My decision has been made; I shall go to Brisbane tomorrow and support my Malaysian friends who are desperate to see changes in their homeland; because for me the reasons Bersih 2.0 occurred were ignored and I still believe in the process of democracy and the inherent rights afforded to me as a person.

But more importantly, I believe that coming together as one tomorrow will show the world and the Malaysian government that although changes are not readily forthcoming, I shall not give up until I am heard.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:06 pm and is filed under
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Bersih then and Bersih now

Patrick Lee | April 27, 2012

Free Malaysia Today

This time everyone who missed out on last year’s rally wants to be in on the action. While the usual suspects in the opposing camp are rather muted.

PETALING JAYA: Though same in demands, the Bersih rally this year will be a different ball game compared to its predecessor.

The eight demands to reform the electoral system, the yellow T-shirts, the boasts of tens of thousands coming and even all the usual suspects are still there.

But a couple of things set 2012′s Bersih apart from the 2011′s Walk of Democracy. Here’s five.

1. Why?

In May last year, election observer Ong BK was kicked out of Sarawak for trying to dig up dirt on the state’s elections the month before. Angered, Bersih’s organisers decided to kick off its July 9 rally.

This year, however, the group was annoyed after Parliament approved its select committee (PSC) report on electoral reforms with little debate.

According to them, the Election Commission either (a) hadn’t done enough to fix the voter rolls, or (b) wasn’t listening to them.

2. Merdeka where?

In the run-up to Bersih 2.0, the group chose Stadium Merdeka after the King told them that it was a bad idea to have it on the streets.

The government was of course, aghast. How dare these people desecrate the site of Independence with their demands for fair elections?

Go have it somewhere else, they cried. The stadium is too small to fit your hundreds of thousands of screaming yellow-shirters.

Plus, it’s also bad for business. Think of all the traffic you’ll cause!

Bersih of course, disagreed with these reasons, because if KL traffic is any indication of rallies, you’d think that there were protests everyday.

These factors however went out the window this year, when Bersih called for Dataran Merdeka to be opened for tomorrow’s rally.

We’ll even give you Stadium Merdeka, even though we said it was off-limits before, the authorities cried. Heck, take the Cheras, Bukit Jalil and Titiwangsa stadiums if you want, but leave that square alone.

But Bersih said no. We want Dataran and we want it now. It’s really close to public transport and it’s culturally significant.

3. Let’s get crackin’

When the police heard about Bersih last year, they reacted with an efficiency unheard of in most government agencies.

The authorities also came down hard on people with T-shirts, arresting everyone dressed in yellow. No one, not even DiGi’s mascot, was safe.

A few unfortunate socialists with Chin Peng T-shirts were accused of waging war against the King, even if none of them had any weapons on them and were armed only with posters.

Bersih was then declared illegal because they never really registered themselves.

Temporary bus permits to KL were denied and many parts of the city were locked down by the police as the date drew close.

This year, however, government reaction to the group was noticeably muted.

No one had been arrested for wearing T-shirts, nobody had been called in for questioning, ministers are relaxed (in comparison), and police aren’t really warning anyone.

The only authorities caught in a bind this time was KL City Hall (DBKL), who oddly enough was very quiet last year.

4. Battlefield Kuala Lumpur

With all the fuss over Bersih last year, you’d have thought the country was going to war. Some even went to the extent of calling Bersih’s co-chairperson S Ambiga an enemy of the Muslims.

Over 2,000 police reports were lodged against the “illegal” coalition; a record worthy of the Malaysian Book of Records.

Annoyed over the call for reforms, a silat grandmaster warned that 50,000 fighters would come out to fight Bersih on the streets if need be.

Whereas Umno Youth and Perkasa said that they would flex their muscles as well, even if the latter was nowhere to be found that day.

Both Ambiga and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin found themselves hit with death threats.

In terms of build-up, this year was boring, if you could call it that.

Death was not referenced in threats. No police reports (maybe one or two, but we haven’t really heard of any) were made. No martial arts-fighting on the streets either.

Heck, even Ibrahim Ali seems relaxed this year.

5. Bersih, Bersih everywhere

In July 2011, Kuala Lumpur was the coolest place to be for protests. In fact, it was so happening here that nothing else (Bersih-wise) happened anywhere else in the country.

Even so, a few overseas Malaysians decided to join in on the action and held smaller rallies all over the world, though most of them were found in Australia.

This year, everybody, everywhere wants to be a part of Bersih. With 93 locations worldwide (and Malaysia), you might accidentally walk into a rally around the corner.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:38 pm and is filed under
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Call on Najib to reverse course last-minute – direct Home Minister, police and DBKL to partner/facilitate successful and peaceful  holding of the Bersih 3.0 “sit in” for clean elections at Dataran Merdeka tomorrow

The question all Malaysians and the world are asking is: What “Malaysia as world’s best democracy” is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak talking about when his government is so mortally afraid of Malaysians peacefully gathering at Dataran Merdeka for a two-hour “sit-in” calling for free, fair and clean elections?

The volte face by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein from the earlier position of  Bersih 3.0 not being a  national security problem to its becoming “a security issue”, the threat of police harassment and other actions including mass arrests tomorrow, the locking-down of Dataran Merdeka and the court order secured by the police barring Bersih 3.0 from the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka for four days, are not symptomatic of an administration brimming with confidence that “the era of the government knows best is over” and wants to usher in a political transformastion to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the world” but the very opposite.

If the Najib premiership had fully learnt from the lessons of the gross and disastrous mishandling of the Bersih 2.0 peaceful rally for free, fair and clean elections on July 9, 2011, which dealt body blows to Najib and Malaysia’s national and international image, the government would have facilitated the successful holding of the Bersih 3.0 peaceful  “sit-in” protest at Dataran Merdeka tomorrow.

The organisers of the “428” Bersih 3.0 “sit-in” protest at Dataran Merdeka, together with Malaysians regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, age or gender enthusiatically supporting the Bersih 3.0 idea, have made a clear and  unequivocal commitment that the  call for free, fair and clean elections would be a historic but a  peaceful one – in fact highlighting the greatest Malaysian assets in uniting diverse races, religions, languages, cultures and regions in one great common national and universal cause.

Why can’t the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the police and all relevant government agencies chip in and partner  the Bersih 3.0 organisers to facilitate and ensure the success of the Bersih 3.0 peaceful “sit-in” demonstration at Dataran Merdeka in support of free, fair and clean elections – which could be celebrated nationally and internationally as the coming-of-age of Malaysia in a genuine democratic transformation 55 years after independent nationhood?

With full co-operation and partnership between the Bersih 3.0 organisers and the powers of the state, the two-hour peaceful Bersih 3.0 “sit-in” can only be a  success to the great credit of the country and the government of the day – as their co-operation will foil all attempts by trouble-makers out to  disrupt the peaceful holding of the “sit in”.

With 18 hours to go before  the Bersih 3.0 “sit-in” at Dataran Merdeka tomorrow , it is not too late for Najib to reverse course and to direct the Home Minister, the police and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall  to give full co-operation to partner and  facilitate the successful and peaceful  holding of the Bersih 3.0 “sit in” for clean, free and fair elections at Dataran Merdeka tomorrow.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 6:40 pm and is filed under
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Concerned citizens call on PM Najib Razak to allow Bersih 3.0 to go ahead peacefully at Dataran Merdeka on April 28

Friday, 27 April 2012

Press Statement

We the undersigned wish to express our profound disappointment at the numerous obstacles that have been put in place by government agencies, especially the Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), to prevent the planned peaceful gathering of Bersih 3.0 on 28 April 2012.

We recognise that these agencies are either under the direct control or influence of your government but we are sure that you, as Prime Minister, concur that they should strictly observe and practice administrative neutrality and not be seen to serve the partisan interests of the ruling parties.

It is disheartening and unacceptable to see these agencies behave in a way that is in direct contradiction to your promises of a more open democratic space for Malaysians.

We wish to emphasise that the right to assembly is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. The only limitation is that such assembly must not be a threat to national security or to public order. There is nothing to suggest that Bersih 3.0 will be such a threat.

We also note with concern that various groups have been making threats against this planned peaceful gathering. Recent events in Dataran Merdeka where students engaged in a peaceful demonstration have been attacked by thugs show that such threats are not to be taken lightly.

You have promised a reformist agenda and we expect you to uphold your pledge.
 Furthermore due to your power over the bodies mentioned above, we wish to assert here that any untoward incidents instigated by any of these bodies shall be held to be your responsibility.

If you believe in democracy and clean and fair elections, now is the time to prove it. Allow Bersih 3.0 to go ahead peacefully.

Signatories

A. Bakar Sulaiman

Ahmad Farouk Musa

Dr Azmi Sharom

Kee Thuan Chye

Dr. K. J. John

Dr Lim Teck Ghee

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar

Datin Marion D’Cruz

Dato Thasleem Ibrahim

Prof Zaharom Nain

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 6:15 pm and is filed under
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DDOS attacks against Malaysiakini begin, again

Malaysiakini.com

6:49PM Apr 27, 2012

Malaysiakini’s server came under attack as tensions mount ahead of tomorrow’s Bersih 3.0 rally.

Readers and subscribers, especially those using international routing such as Blackberries phones, have been unable to access Malaysiakini since 5.30pm this evening.

azlanThe attack known as a – distributed denial of service (DDOS) – involves using a large number of computers to flood Malaysiakini’s servers with ‘dud’ traffic, causing a traffic jam which denies access to legitimate users.

The attack is normally carried out by international syndicates paid to disrupt targeted websites.

A similar attack was carried out against Malaysiakini in April and July last year, in tandem with the Sarawak elections and Bersih 2.0 respectively.

Malaysiakini’s technology team is currently studying the attack patterns and will take measures to overcome the attacks.

Local users who are affected by the change should also try to
www1.malaysiakini.com
 and
www2.malaysiakini.com
 should they lose connection to Malaysiakini’s primary website.

Users should also visit
www.facebook.com/malaysiakini
for updates on the DDOS attacks.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 7:00 pm and is filed under
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Deja vu as no lessons learnt

 — The Malaysian Insider

Apr 27, 2012

APRIL 27 — Those who forget history … well, you get the picture.

Electoral reform group Bersih decides to hold a protest and the government gets into a huff. Plays nice for a bit and then acts tough. Locks down the city. Possible chaos if there is police action. And then the government spends time and money again to be good to the people.

Tomorrow, thousands of Malaysians have promised to stand up for their right to clean and fair elections by sitting down for two hours. In 11 cities in Malaysia and 72 cities across the world.

Most Malaysians will get a chance to do that if they are abroad. And perhaps some city authorities in Malaysia are enlightened enough to allow that and not repeat the mistakes that happened in Bersih 2.0.

The question is why haven’t the authorities learnt anything from the past two Bersih rallies? Why offer alternative venues, play nice and say that Bersih has no traction and then outsource the muscling to the police and the city authorities?

Last year, Bersih 2.0 said they wanted to rally at Stadium Merdeka but the government said no, maybe and later a firm no. Putrajaya even banned the movement and anyone wearing a yellow T-shirt with the Bersih logo was considered less than kosher.

The then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin even met the Bersih 2.0 organisers to resolve the issue. But it came to naught. The police locked down the entire city centre, set up road blocks along all arteries leading to the city to stop the movement.

It didn’t stop Bersih 2.0. Thousands turned up, in yellow, although their leaders were held by police. Tear gas and water cannons ruled the streets but the people stared them down and chased some cops away. Thousands of images — be it pictures or videos — were uploaded to the Internet immediately to show what happened on July 9.

The police said only 6,000 people turned up and nearly 1,700 were detained for a day. The images said otherwise. A police version of events weeks later paled in comparison to the narrative from the participants.

So, has anyone in authority learnt anything from last year’s rally? Bersih 3.0 is a reaction to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) recommendations. They believe it hasn’t gone far enough to address the problem of electoral rolls stuffed with fake names and details. That it will not be a clean and fair election despite all of the Najib administration efforts to reform the electoral process.

They want to sit down for two hours at Dataran Merdeka. Not Stadium Merdeka or other stadiums. But the authorities are adamant that won’t happen. So the city square is now locked down for 48 hours. And it looks like we will see a repeat of last year’s events.

Which isn’t really flattering for the government. The Bersih rallies show that there are a number of people willing to walk and sit for their cause against an authority that will not listen to them. An authority that speaks of political transformation but has little to show on the ground.

Putrajaya should have learnt something from last year’s rally. Because everything they are doing now only makes Bersih stronger. And relevant to every Malaysian who just wants a better Malaysia.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 4:17 pm and is filed under
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Election Commission: Apparent Bias

by
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar

The Chairman of the Election Commission and his Deputy must resign immediately. In the wake of accusations by the Opposition that they are members of UMNO, they have admitted the same.

It is self-evident that they can no longer hold their positions as the head and deputy head of the Election Commission, a body established by the Federal Constitution for the sole purpose of ensuring that the general elections of the Federation and States are run in a manner that ensure public confidence. Put another way, as has been consistently emphasized by the Coalition on Free and Fair Elections, the Election Commission must act in a manner that is seen to be impartial.

That the perception of impartiality is of crucial significance is underscored by Article 113 of the Federal Constitution, the provision which establishes the Election Commission. 113(2) provides:

“In appointing members of the Election Commission the Yang di- Pertuan Agong shall have regard to the importance of securing an Election Commission which enjoys public confidence.”

It is manifest that a member of a political party that will participate, or which may potentially participate, in any general election cannot be made members of the Election Commission. The fact that they are members of a political party is indicative of their political loyalties being to that party. This creates an obvious conflict of interest. This is reinforced in situations where the party Constitution requires allegiance, as I believe the UMNO constitution does.

In the context of UMNO, this issue takes on added significance. Accusations have been made that the Election Commission has conducted itself in a manner that lend to an impression of bias. Leave aside the question of whether there is actual bias, the fact that there is an apprehension of bias is in itself sufficient for concerns to have been raised. To this it must now be added that  the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Election Commission have been revealed to be members of UMNO. This will only fuel further speculation of bias. This in turn will add to an already high degree of resentment amongst voters about the way in which they perceive the electoral process to have been manipulated.

It is no significance that the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman were not active members or had forgotten that they are members. The fact that they are members is in itself sufficient to create the conflict of interest. One wonders whether they would have been endorsed by the Conference of Rulers and appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (as is required under Article 113(1)) if this fact were known.

In the circumstance it appears that there is little choice in the matter. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman must resign. It cannot end there though. The Government must take steps to convince Malaysians that measures that have been taken thus far with regard the imminent General Election have been consistent with the highest expectations of a clean and fair election. If the Government calls for a General Election under this cloud, then it will reinforce the belief of many Malaysians that the electoral process has been hijacked.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 1:25 pm and is filed under
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High stakes for Bersih 3.0 rally

By
Bridget Welsh
 | 8:08AM Apr 27, 2012

Malaysiakini

COMMENT As the buzz surrounding Bersih grows louder, the stakes are rising. As the week began, many wrote off Bersih 3.0, suggesting that the outrage and momentum did not echo the sentiments of last July. They suggested that the playing the rally card again would backfire.

Yet, as the week unfolded, and with the DBKL’s (City Hall’s) response to the occupation of Dataran Merdeka and students calling for free tertiary education, the tide slowly began to turn. It was BN which appeared to be playing a bad hand.

While there was a decentralisation of who was on the frontline for the BN this time, local authorities rather than national leaders, the end result was the same – a failure to address deep-seated concerns about electoral integrity and unwillingness to accept the protest that has arisen by the failure to address these concerns.

While many remain undecided, the ground is moving. Like the earlier two rallies, Bersih 3.0 has evolved into an event that captures a broad range of concerns, from the environment, religious rights, 1Care health insurance scheme and corruption to electoral reform and free education.

The core of these issues involves a call for better governance and greater consultation with Malaysians. This has been the central nerve of Malaysian politics since 1998-1999, as leaders who are seen to be engaging in reform win power and those who don’t lose support.

This was the case in 2004 and 2008. The Bersih 3.0 rally will shape whether this will be the case in 2012 (or 2013).

Over the last few weeks, analysts have used online/social media and forums to highlight the need for electoral reform, pointing to serious problems in the electoral roll, electoral system, electoral rules and the independence of the Electoral Commission (EC).

By any measure and international standards, these problems are credible and cannot be dismissed. Many of these problems have been around for a long time; the EC’s independence was lost in 1962, for example.

Gerrymandering and malapportionment have been serious issues for decades, and were exacerbated after the 1969 racial riots. What makes the ‘old’ issues more salient is the competitiveness of the upcoming polls, as these factors have been shown to influence outcomes in the past.

Malaysia has long been touted as an example of electoral authoritarianism, where the electoral system is used to buttress the support of the incumbent in power.

Foreigners could well decide GE

What makes electoral reform even more potent this time around is the changes that have been brought into the system since 2008, often without proper review or adequate debate.

Here is where the discussion of the electoral roll fits in. To my knowledge, there is no place in the world that allows this many foreigners to vote for the strategic purpose of winning office.

Few can understand why authorities would sell out the interests of its citizens as a whole by bringing in non-Malaysians to vote. This is especially hard to understand when so many Malaysians abroad are clamouring to vote, but were denied this by both the EC and Malaysian courts.

Strategic political citizenship is sadly not new in Malaysia’s history, as Sabahans can attest to. Little attention is given on its long-term impact on the country’s social fabric and the marginalisation of different communities as the right to vote is given to immigrants for political expediency.

Foreigners, new postal voters, procedures that limit transparency in voting and more have raised serious red flags about Malaysia’s electoral processes and the sad fact is that if elections are held in these circumstances, the victory would not be a genuine one. It would be a hollow mandate fabricated through manipulation.

To use an analogy that football fans can understand, there is no longer a referee. The opposition has been told that they can only stand in their own side of the field and all the players in the incumbent team are offside near their rival’s goal. This is not a fair fight, but a fixed one.

Where has the sense of integrity gone? Does the BN need a victory so bad that it would play on such an unlevel field?

The reason these issues are so important is, to quote Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the next election will be “the mother of all elections”.

Of the 222 seats up for grabs, I believe 170 are competitive – a swing of 10 percent either way will make a marked difference given the new configuration of younger voters and changing terrain. Of these 170 competitive seats, nearly 90 of these are “highly competitive” – meaning that in the fluid conditions of Malaysian politics, either side can win.

Up until Bersih, it was my view that BN had the advantage.

Prime Minister Najib Razak – through his hard work and use of finances (another problematic area in Malaysian elections – BR1M’s cash handouts involved 5.3 million households at a cost of RM2.3 billion, for example) had made headway and was steering BN into a comfortable win, relying heavily on seats in Sabah and Sarawak.

While there were the unknowns of infighting within his party, Umno, the inability of the opposition to formulate a unified message and move beyond capitalising on negative angst against the BN and Umno, continued to work in BN’s favour.

The big issue that boosted Najib was perceptions (not necessarily reality) that the economy was stronger than in 2008, as well as the impact of the attacks on Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Now, this dynamic is again in flux. The competition has risen sharply, as seats in the BN’s hands are less secure. The recent questionable changes involving the electoral process are even more important, and contentious.

The battle for the middle ground

When Bersih 3.0 first began, it attracted the base that voted for the opposition, those that have already made up their minds.

The BN’s response – a hardline one that denied access to Dataran Merdeka, showcased the use of the police via DBKL, involved denial of electoral problems through the EC’s explanatory report as “anomalies” and even featured taxi drivers linked to BN in an appeal to move the venue elsewhere – involved three key elements:

Denial of problems.

A traditional attempt to tar the protesters as a threat to stability.

The failed attempt to use the racial card.

It mirrored the well-honed old political style. At its core, there are some in Umno who see similarities between Merdeka Square and Tahrir Square, and are worried this arena will be a focal point for change. These sort of concerns led to the siege mentality last July.

Yet, it has evolved into a new dynamic. To understand Malaysian politics today, it is important to appreciate its diversity and pluralism.

The days where power can be decided by a group of leaders meeting in private are gone. It is the people who have the power, not the politicians. Both sides are using numbers and people to win support. The BN-linked NGOs have come out to voice their own concerns, as have some of their beneficiaries. The opposition too is using its own links.

Yet this rally involves many politically-engaged Malaysians who are not tied directly to any party. Their focus is on the issues they represent. Many of these form what in political science is known as ‘critical citizens’ – those who view both sides with scepticism and want the system as a whole to improve.

This is what makes Bersih 3.0 so important, in that it is a reflection of Middle Malaysia – the middle ground led by critical citizens. In Middle Malaysia, there are four groups in particular that will shape the electoral outcome.

The first is youth. Young voters are crucial in the results, as they make up at least two million of the new voters. They are distributed across seats, although disproportionally less likely to vote as they are outstation. Malaysia remains one of the handful of countries in Asia which have a voting age of 21, considerably higher than the global average and this disenfranchises its youth.

They have now become more politically active, reminiscent of the 1960s. Today the issue of free education and treatment of students has made Bersih 3.0 highly emotive among many younger Malaysians, and their turnout will be a test for how the ground is moving.

The second group is middle-class voters. Many of these individuals had never been to a protest before July 2011 and if they show up in high numbers, then it will highlight the challenge the government faces in winning over key opinion leaders in various communities.

These are the doctors, the civil servants, the bankers and clerks, the community leaders who have social capital and can shape opinions. They make up the heart of critical citizens, informed and engaged in issues.

The third group that will matter this time round will be the regional events nationally and internationally, especially in East Malaysia.

These are not only the ‘fixed deposit’ areas, but are where many of the electoral problems are most acute, especially foreigner voters. Greater activism outside of Kuala Lumpur will illustrate that the concerns are not confined to the urban core, but national (and international) in scope.

Finally, the fourth group that will matter is the police and other security groups such as Rela (Volunteers Corps), whose actions will reflect on their professionalism. A crackdown will only serve to reinforce the sense of unfairness and the need for better governance that is essentially underlying the Bersih 3.0 rally.

As such, tensions are high and anger has risen on both sides, making Bersih 3.0 more intense than earlier rallies.

Competition for reform within Umno

Even when the dust eventually settle on Bersih 3.0, another fault line in Malaysian politics will be showcased – the ability of Najib to showcase himself as the champion of reform.

After Bersih 2.0, he made promises and many of them took the form of new bills. Some of which opened up space and many of which only served to bring in more draconian measures. Whether it involved free assembly or electoral changes, the end result is that the measures introduced are not yet fundamentally about reform.

They focus on form not substance, taking away old laws such as the Internal Security Act, while introducing more questionable – although untested ones, such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill. The same focus on form underscores the government’s last-minute conciliatory offer of four alternative locations for Bersih 3.0.

Why this focus on form rather than substance? Cynics would suggest that this reflects the inability to trust Najib and his promises. Others would suggest that this reflects the reality in the system that he has to operate. He was a hardliner who is now claiming to be a reformer and/or adopting reformist rhetoric to win power. He is a product of Umno.

The majority of leaders in his party still are hardliners, and the handful of reformist leaders such as Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin are facing challenges inside the system, especially as they are showcased to defend the system they are in.

The bigger question that comes out of the handling of Bersih 3.0 will be whether Umno is capable of reforming.

What is interesting to date is that Najib has stayed largely out of the fray, handing over the spokesman role to his cousin, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. This issue is a national one and as a national leader, questions are being raised about his position.

He chose to go out of town in the last round, and the end result was that he came off as mishandling the event. Can he afford this again given that his campaign to date has been about his national leadership?

What happens tomorrow is not just about the opposition or Umno-BN. It is also not just about electoral reform, given the wide spectrum of concerns. Everyone will attempt to gain political capital.

Politically, Bersih 3.0 will reveal whether Malaysia will become more polarised or compromises can be reached. It will either provide momentum for the opposition, or signal an early election by Najib if turnout is low, in which he will win, in part due to the problems engendered in the system.

Ultimately this rally is not just about politics. The Bersih 3.0 rally is about Malaysia’s future – about whether a national leader will lead, about whether the field will be fair enough to be respectable, about whether a government treats its people with a modicum of respect and about whether politics in Malaysia will be a politics of the street or effective dialogue with a reasonable leadership.

Too much of late in Malaysia has been about negativity, anger and insecurity. Bersih 3.0 is moving politics away from that negativity to the promise of a better future for Malaysians, or at least trying to do so. Najib’s reaction to Bersih 3.0 is perhaps his most serious leadership test yet.

__

DR BRIDGET WELSH is associate professor of political science at Singapore Management University and she can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/196212

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 6:38 pm and is filed under
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Let’s take back our votes

— Nagappan Karuppiah

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 26, 2012

APRIL 26 — I read Yolanda Augustin (“Why Malaysians overseas are joining Global Bersih 3.0”, Side Views, April 24) and found myself nodding at each line.

I left Malaysia in 2003 to study in Australia. At the end of the first semester, I’d decided I’d make Australia my home. I’d had no interest in Malaysian politics to start with, but in that first semester, Australia opened my eyes to what freedom of speech is about. What multiculturalism — living with people of various races — is all about. How you can write to the newspapers and criticise the prime minister and the government for their policies. How on prime-time television you can voice your opinion. In Australia, I found the meaning of being part of a free, democratic and civil society.

I received my permanent residency in 2007 but to date I am not able to make or call Australia home. Malaysia is still where I cherish the best memories of my life, my school days and friends. I still find myself calling Malaysia home. I am still very much Malaysian at heart.

Over the past few years, I began reading and comparing the sociopolitics of Malaysia and Australia. It became apparent that Malaysia as a country has one too many stumbling blocks to progress, never mind to become a developed country. There’s corruption, a pathetic education system, gerrymandering of electoral boundaries, wastage of public funds, how one per cent of the people — the politicians and the elites associated with them — control the economy and how nothing drips down to the lowest strata of society. Worst of all, most Malaysians are still apathetic to everything that goes on around them.

I don’t think many Malaysians fully understand the effect of what took place in Parliament last Thursday, April 19, when eight laws were passed in one day. Probably distracted by the assault on Occupy Dataran, the French submarine case or, worse, couldn’t be bothered.

What happened that night is probably the single most awful thing that could have happened in our entire history. Forget 1969, forget arbitrary ISA arrests, forget Mahathir’s 22-year dictatorship, forget the PKFZ scandal or the numerous other scandals that ate your tax money. Forget all these.

None of these is going to matter when your vote is reduced in value. Yes, that’s right. Your vote now, this year, is worth far less than it was in 2008. With your vote, those of your family, your friends’, in fact everyone’s votes being reduced in value, the government has just made sure it can stay in power, indefinitely. Which means, all the past misdeeds, your fears and anxieties can just be as easily repeated.

All the previous Bersih rallies demanded electoral reforms. Now we have gone backwards.

There will no longer be independent scrutineers at polling stations.

No more safeguards on fraudulent voters.

Counting agents can now be removed by the Election Commission.

And nobody can go within 100 metres of vote-counting areas.

Illegal immigrants are now being given voting rights. Do you want them to decide our country’s future?

We were better off in 2008 than we are today.

But we are Malaysians. We are stronger than this. We are just not going to keep quiet while they mess around with our votes. We kept quiet before and they have made it easier to steal the elections. But we are not going to keep quiet any longer. Any unjust law is worth fighting. We are not only fighting for our future, but for our children’s future and their children’s future as well.

There’s only one way out. We need to show them we care. We need to show them that we are not apathetic. We need to show them we get hurt when they take away something that belongs to us.

Let’s take back our votes.

Let’s sit in knee-to-knee with others this April 28 at Dataran Merdeka and in more than 79 other locations around the world.

Let’s “duduk bantah”. For the sake of our country, our children and their children.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:18 am and is filed under
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Pemimpin Pakatan juga berhak mendapat liputan

 — Aspan Alias

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 27, 2012

27 APRIL — Tuntutan Bersih 3.0 merupakan satu “extension” kepada tuntutan yang dibuat dalam Bersih 2.0. Negara memerlukan undian daripada rakyat siapa yang sepatutnya diberikan mandat apabila habis tempoh penggal pilihanraya, sekurang-kurangnya selepas tiga tahun atau sebelum tamat tempoh lima tahun.

Tuntutan yang dilakukan oleh rakyat melalui Bersih 3.0 ini merupakan tuntutan yang adil dan munasabah dan sepatutnya tidak menjadi halangan untuk dilakukan oleh rakyat yang tidak berpuas hati dengan cara dan kaedah pilihanraya diadakan.

Daripada lapan tuntutan yang diminta oleh rakyat itu saya hanya ingin menyentuh hanya satu daripada kesemua tuntutan itu, iaitu “accessibility” yang “equitable” untuk semua parti yang bertanding dan menawarkan cadangan-cadangan jika diberi kepercayaan oleh rakyat.

Mendapat liputan yang saksama daripada media arus perdana itu merupakan perkara yang paling asas di dalam sesebuah demokrasi kerana melalui media itulah pihak-pihak yang menawarkan diri untuk mendapat kepercayaan rakyat itu dapat dilakukan.

Di dalam demokrasi-demokrasi besar liputan media arus perdana itu merupakan isu yang telah menjadi lumrah. Di Indonesia misalnya, sebuah negara yang suatu ketika dahulu dikatakan dikuasai oleh diktator Suharto pun telah bertukar menjadi sebuah demokrasi yang besar di mana semua pihak yang bertanding diberikan masa untuk berutusan dengan rakyat yang akan membuat pilihan melalui media perdana mereka.

Di Myanmar, pihak pembangkang telah diberikan peluang dan masa untuk berucap di kaca TV arus perdana mereka. Kita semua tahu bahawa negara itu adalah di bawah perintah junta tentera sejak berapa lama dahulu. Negara itu mengikuti perubahan yang positif dalam mendemokrasikan sistem pilihan raya di sana.

Mereka menerima hakikat bahawa di dalam demokrasi semua pihak berhak untuk mendapat liputan yang saksama daripada media perdana. Singapura yang kita menganggap sebagai sebuah negara demokrasi terpimpin pun ada masa dan ruang untuk pembangkang memberikan pandangan dan perbahasan melalui TV arus perdana negara itu. Semasa diktator Marcos memerintah Filipina dahulu pun ada beberapa saluran TV negara itu yang membenarkan pandangan yang bersalah-salahan dalam TV arus perdana negara itu.

Hanya di negara ini sahaja pembangkang tidak dibenarkan berkempen melalui TV arus perdana sedangkan kita mendabik dada mengaku sebagai sebuah negara yang demokrasi. Jika pembahagian masa untuk berutusan dengan rakyat melalui media perdana, maka tidak akan timbul masalah tuduhan yang pembangkang itu memfitnah seperti yang lazim dilakukan oleh pihak pemerintah. Orang ramai akan dapat menilai samada yang dikatakan oleh pemimpin pembangkang itu fitnah atau sebagainya.

Jika pihak pemerintah bertanggungjawab, pembangkang wajar diberikan “accessibility” yang agak “equitable” terhadap penggunaan media masa perdana untuk menjawab tuduhan-tuduhan pihak pemerintah terhadap pembangkang.

Di negara ini memberikan masa untuk pembangkang bercakap melalui TV arus perdana seolah-olah sudah menjadi perkara yang aneh sedangkan itu merupakan rukun pilihanraya yang sangat asas di dalam sesebuah demokrasi itu.

Lim Guan Eng, Tok Guru Haji Hadi Awang serta Anwar Ibrahim secara moralnya berhak untuk bercakap melalui TV perdana negara. Itu asas demokrasi dan jangan dinafikan perkara yang benar dan jangan membenarkan perkara yang tidak benar.

Berlaku adillah supaya demokrasi kita dapat berkembang dengan baik tanpa dikotori oleh elemen-elemen jahat yang membayangkan kelemahan kita sendiri. Rakyat sudah pandai membaca dan menilai semua tindak-tanduk yang mencemarkan keunggulan demokrasi itu.

Kita perlu ingat taktik mengelirukan rakyat untuk mendapatkan sokongan merupakan taktik yang sudah ketinggalan zaman. Sikap kita mesti berubah mengikut kehendak masa dan zamannya. Saya percaya jika media perdana memberikan hak yang asasi ini kepada pihak pembangkang rakyat tidak perlu melakukan tuntutan melalui Bersih 3.0 ini kerana pemimpin pembangkang boleh meluahkan segala rasa ketidakadilan itu melalui media perdana.

Pembangkang tidak boleh dipersalahkan dalam isu ini kerana yang menyebabkan Bersih 3.0 perlu diadakan adalah kerana sikap pihak pemerintah sendiri. Ingat, negara ini rakyat yang punya. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:26 pm and is filed under
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Perth is ready for Bersih 3.0

 — Soon Yee Yap

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 27, 2012

APRIL 27 — No one has shown hesitation about coming out in full force tomorrow; indeed, many are making preparing to face a wet day, not because they are expecting to be met with water cannons and tear gas but because of the forecast of rain. In stark contrast with developments in Kuala Lumpur, the police in Perth, having been notified of our intentions, gave us the go ahead in writing.

In fact, a couple of days ago, the investigative team from State Security invited a few of us out for a catch-up chat, not in a police station but a less intimidating environment of a hotel pub. They warn us of things and elements to watch out for that could tarnish our movement instead of harassing us. Apparently, we are in their good books.

The City of Perth Council has agreed to a suggestion from someone of our community to tie yellow ribbons and messages on a tree just in front of the Malaysian Consulate. In fact, it was suggested to us that it can be left until the next general election in Malaysia!

Over 150 Perth Edition Bersih 3.0 T-shirts were ordered over two weeks ago and, despite a slow start, there’s is not going to be enough to go around. Final pick up is this evening, with priority for participants tomorrow and our guys have already turned down bulk orders.

This just goes to show that you can take a person out of Malaysia but you cannot take Malaysia out of the person. We are all Malaysian at heart despite living away from home.

In our event tomorrow, besides the customary speeches about why we are gather to show our support for the electoral reforms in Malaysia, a message from Ambiga Sreenevasan for the Global Bersih movement, which has now grown to 80 cities across the globe, will be read. A few Australians will also be in attendance including WA MP Robin Chapple, who will address the supporters. Our event, which will gather at Langley Park right on the foreshore of the Swan River, will include singing of our nation anthem followed by Malaysian favourites with theme modified lyrics.

From there, we will walk up to the Malaysian Consulate about 400m away for a sit-in / stand-down protest, in a procession led by our friends with Bunga Manggar, complete with banners, placards and flags.

Our band of merry men and women has been anticipating this edition with much excitement. The event will be documented in Oon Yeoh’s Global Bersih scrapbook, which will compiled soon after the event day.

In between the two editions, we have participated in the making of Mic Hoo’s Bersih Song: Tears of Malaysia, an international Bersih message video was released on YouTube, and who can forget the Perth CHOGM protest march in October 2011.

Bersihkan Malaysia Perth has grown into a community, not just an email contact list or profiles on Facebook. Being non-partisan, we intend to keep the pressure on bad practices, corruption, warts and all in Malaysia regardless of the political inclination.

* Soon Yee Yap is with Bersihkan Malaysia Perth.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:47 pm and is filed under
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Their own worst enemy

 — Maha Balakrishnan

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 27, 2012

APRIL 27 — Just when you think the government and police force in this country can’t possibly do anything more ridiculous than the last thing they did, they top it.

Apparently, the police have now allowed Bersih 3.0 to assemble on the perimeter of Dataran Merdeka, but just not ON Dataran Merdeka. Let us take a step back and consider this: The perimeter of Dataran Merdeka comprises public roads.

What the police are saying is that it’s OK for Malaysians, who will probably number in the thousands, to assemble on public roads on a Saturday afternoon, but NOT on a closed-off square away from traffic and built for such assemblies of people.

What was the rationale for banning Bersih’s use of Dataran Merdeka, again? Something about Bersih 3.0 now suddenly becoming a security threat? How is Bersih 3.0 a security threat on a public square but not on public roads?

I step on the square, I’m a security threat; I step off the square, I’m not. Genius.

From the beginning, this was clearly a game of Top Trumps. This last salvo from the government of the day “allowing” people to gather on the streets around Dataran Merdeka shows that its insistence that Bersih 3.0 cannot use Dataran Merdeka was sheer stubbornness, with no real belief in the rally being a security threat or that it would tarnish the “image” of Dataran Merdeka.

How can it be that despite the bitter experience of Bersih 2.0, they have learned nothing? In case you still can’t see it, prime minister, deputy prime minister, home minister and the rest of the boys in the back rooms of Putrajaya — the woman won the pissing contest.

But over and above all the gaffes today, there is another one that was committed on July 10, 2011 and will come back to haunt the government on April 29, 2012. The government insisted that only 5,000 or so people turned out in support of Bersih 2.0.

What will they say the figures are for Bersih 3.0, I wonder? If they name any figure more than 5,000, then Bersih has gathered more supporters than a year before, and support for their cause has increased. If they name the same figure of 5,000, then Bersih has not lost any support from a year ago.

Will they name a figure less than 5,000? They wouldn’t dare, when Bersih Global itself is likely to gather almost that much.

Any way the government turns, it loses.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:29 pm and is filed under
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To mamas who worry about papas going to BERSIH 3.0 Duduk Bantah

by Angie Ng

(from Zorro-unmasked)

It was one fine day. Suddenly, your loving husband who always comes home in time for dinner, a good father who always cares for the kids told you that he will be joining Bersih 3.0. You were shocked! For goodness sake! You said. “Don’t you remember how they shoot people with tear gas, and the chemical laced water? And more than 1000 people were arrested during Bersih 2.0? What if something happens to you? What about me and the kids? The rally will still go on without you; they won’t know the difference… Just don’t go and stay away from trouble!”

We know you love your husband, and you hope he understands your concern, know your thoughts. However, have you try look into his thoughts to find out what is in his mind? Last year’s BERSIH 2.0, you saw him wept in front of his computer. Why? He was touched to see how Malaysians stood up, hand-in-hand, regardless of their status and skin colour. He saw how people stood up as Malaysians to brave the tear gas, water cannon and FRUs. He got goosebumps when he heard people singing “Negaraku” that day. He has been singing “Negaraku” since he first learnt the song. But he never realizes that the lyric is so meaningful and beautiful when we sing it out loud with love for your country. That moment, he wasn’t happy at all for staying at home comfortably in front of his computer. He was sad for not standing there, fighting with fellow Malaysians for a better future!

Those who sprayed by water cannon, they have wives, parents and families too. Some even left a will for their families. If anything happens to himself, his wife or his family shall take care of his business. They were afraid too! But still, they stood proudly in front of tear gas and water cannon. That moment, did you know that your husband was so ashamed for not able to be there?

He decided to join this coming BERSIH 3.0. He did it for you, for your kids, for the place he called HOME.
 With all the corruptions and the abuse of powers, we all longed for change in this country. However, we can’t do it through a dirty and bias election. Take a look at our beautiful country. We can’t afford her to be contaminated by radioactive waste, and we can’t raise our children in such a place! We have no choice. We can’t do it alone, but with each and every one of us, many grains of sands can sink the ship.

Instead of telling him not to join BERSIH 3.0, join him for the walk, hand-in-hand, for the sake of your children’s future. This is way more meaningful compared to an expensive candle light dinner. If you are not willing to go, I sincerely hope that you can support his determination. Make him a flask of herbal tea, or a bottle of water; prepare a small towel and a nice cap for him to bring to Dataran Merdeka. Give him a big hug at the door, tell him that he is your hero and your children will be proud of him. Ask him to be careful and stay safe for the sake of you and your children. And you’ll cook him a nice meal when he comes back.

Believe me, he will be the happiest man in the world, because of you — the most understanding wife in the world!

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 11:54 pm and is filed under
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Today’s headlines

— Lucius Goon

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 26, 2012

APRIL 26 — To the editor of The Malaysian Insider, I hope you can indulge me and publish my synopsis of today’s main news.

1) Chua Soi Lek says that he welcomes Lim Kit Siang and DAP to make Johor their battleground and then goes on to say a whole bunch which betrays his true sentiments.

Anyway, since the winnable candidate is looking for a safe seat outside Johor, he is not qualified to talk about the southern state. He should focus on helping his brother who is currrently being investigated by the Securities Commission and police for the disappearance of some RM70 million from a public listed company.

At the same time, he should try and extricate his party from the PKFZ mess. But don’t use blogs like stop the lies, try more credible news sources.

2) Muhyiddin Yassin today challenged Lim Guan Eng to show what were his concrete achievements for Penang. For a start, the Penang CM has not been sued by foreign investors who were cajoled and strong-armed in a shady land deal also known as the Stamford Hills case.

At best, Lim has cleaned up the state and made sure that the state still is attractive to investors. On the other hand, Muhyiddin will go down in history as the deputy put a spanner into his boss’ 1Malaysia platform with his infamous “I am Malay First.”

3) Can someone please tell me why Shahrizat Jalil’s husband and family members are still issuing press statements? Are they still living in the lap of luxury?

The National Feedlot scandal was the biggest scam and yet there is no remorse from the Shahrizat clan. Today they are talking about Bafia,etc. How about just returning the RM250 million?

4) I am sorry Ms Ambiga Sreenevasan but you lowered yourself by debating Khairy Jamaluddin of Umno Youth.

Why share the stage with someone found guilty of money politics, who jumped on the bandwagon and accused Lim Guan Eng’s son of wrongdoing but did not have the decency to say sorry when it was proven to be a malicious accusation?

Ms Sreenevasan you have inadvertently given legitimacy to a true blue Umno politician.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:10 am and is filed under
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Umno’s parenting skills

 — Sakmongkol AK47

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 27, 2012

APRIL 27 — In 1927, some 85 years ago, a Malay intellectual named Zainal Abidin Ahmad wrote: “Mereka telah di perabdikan dan kena picit dan perah dan ramas di tangan pemerintah2 yang pada zaman dahulu itu- iaitu pemerintah2 dari bangsa mereka sendiri…”

It’s true. The biggest oppressors turned out to be the Malays who have power among them. The Malays are dehumanised under Umno hegemony. How would you feel, to wake up every day to tell your sons and daughters that you can’t be as good as the Indians and Chinese because you were born Malay? You are less a person because you are Malay? That you are not able to compete because you are genetically and inherently deficient and lacking in so many things? What kind of Malay do your children grow up to become?

What do the Malays look for salvation? In an absolutist Umno very much similar to the absolute monarchy of old — that ruling system to which Zaaba came to ruefully write about.

And what will the Malays turn out to be? They will become underdeveloped beings, imprisoned by false characterisation, dwarfed and stunted because each day your Umno parents tell you, you are not good enough. Your Umno parents will tell you that you are what you are today because the non-Malay forces are conspiring to decimate all things Malay.

What does Umno offer as solution? Absolute dependence on Umno.
 Therefore, in order to level the playing field, give us Umno absolute and unbridled power. Power to do what? To pillage and plunder this country and keep Malays forever enslaved?

This is the biggest lie and fallacy that Umno has infused into the pliant minds of the Malays. Malays are pliant putty, shaped and formed in any way Umno deems suitable for the times.

When wishing that Umno be given absolute carte blanche to pillage and plunder, Malays are intimidated and terrorised with the idea that they will simply be overwhelmed by the non-Malays. That all things Malay — race, religion and emblematic institutions — will be eliminated when the non-Malays take over.

The non-Malays combined do not make the bigger portion of the population. This fact alone is sufficient to demolish the Umno web of deceit and lies.

By the way, just so the linguist nationalist must know, Zainal Abidin, whom the Malays know as Pendita Zaaba, wrote the original lines in English. He was writing about the Malays and the above passage loosely translates as follows:

“They( the Malays) have been enslaved, suppressed, oppressed and abused at the hands of their own rulers who were then the ruling classes from within their own kind …”

Zaaba was then 32 years old. He was the first Malay to sit for the Senior Cambridge examinations, then went on to become a teacher and later lecturer at the Sultan Idris Training College.

What is my point? My point is if the Malays are to now look for the real people who are holding them back, they don’t have to look beyond themselves. It’s almost universally true all over the world, that the worse oppressors of any race are their own race. That old-school feudalism looked disdainfully at Malays is infamously captured through the eyes of a representative of that social class remarking that:

“…. I do not like the idea of the children of rajas and chiefs sitting side by side with the children of people who were once our slaves.”

The old-school feudalism has been replaced by new-school feudalism. None practises it more expertly than Umno. Umno has never rid itself of this inherent belief in ascriptive leadership. By that we mean, leaders are chosen on account of who they are naturally.

To Umno and this is what the Umno leadership drums into the mind of the Umno heartland — Umno leaders are born and only the select few, with the right denominations such as by having the correct surnames and who operate within the right social milieu, can lead Umno and the Malays.

New-school feudalism may no longer have the social Berlin Wall but the underlying characteristics of the old feudalism remain. By the underlying characteristic we mean the continued enslavement of the Malay mind perpetrated by the present-day rulers of the Malays — Umno.

Umno has not only debased the rakyat, it has also debased our society. It is encouraging the thug mindset of our 21st century while others have raced ahead to be more cultivated and critical in their thinking, more rational and moderate in their behaviour, and more just and honest in their decisions.

Let us candidly ask ourselves. If such a situation continues, what will be the final result? Kleptocracy at one corner, hypocrisy at another, followed by a thuggish police state at another corner, and lastly an income-widening gap in a mythical high-income economy in the last corner. We’ll be surrounded on all four corners by mediocrity and lunacy.

Is this how we want our Malaysia to become? Spins and lies, threats and blows, debasement and injustice, low standards and obsolescence, yawning debt and weakening performance propped by big spin?

Then it won’t just be the end of the history of Umno Baru. It’ll be the end of the short-lived history of Negara Ku.

Bangkitlah bangsa Malaysia! — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

* Sakmongkol AK47 is the nom de plume of Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz. He was Pulau Manis assemblyman (2004-2008).

                This entry was posted on Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:16 pm and is filed under
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A prayer for all taking part in Bersih 3.0

JD Lovrenciear | Apr 26, 2012

Malaysiakini

The clock is ticking away hauntingly for those who are detached from, hostile towards or indifferent about this hour of reckoning for Bersih 3.0 on April 28, 2012.

But there is no time or grace to waste on such people who are blind, deaf and without feelings of and for humanity’s struggles to realise civilisation.

So here is a prayer for all of us who will be there united together here in Malaysia and all over the planet Earth for the betterment of Malaysia for all Malaysians:

As we track the days, hours, minutes and finally the seconds of our watch for April 28, 2012, may the heavens open up and let the rays of hope, aspiration and unity ignite our hearts.

As we walk together – north, south, east and west of this country that we call home, may the heavens raise our souls to uphold the brotherhood that we all share as part of this planet’s humanity.

May our spirits not waver; may our bones not ache; may our blood not spill – for this march to sit-in and protest springs not from hatred but peace; was sowed not with divisiveness but nurtured with oneness.

Indeed as brothers and sisters of one land we have wept for far too long with hope that there will be mercy from those who stood in our ways as we pleaded for justice and fairness.

Indeed as brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, friends and relatives, uncles and aunts, we raised our pleas through so many channels and in so many ways and in so many times that demonstrated our peaceful ways, our tolerant spirits, our hopeful prayers.

But all was in vain.

And so, we march to sit-in and protest and ask the planet on which we occupy to send a resounding vibration to the four corners of our nation relaying our silent yet loud, peaceful yet firm, tolerant yet resolute determination to correct all that has been wronged for the past half a century in this blessed and fortunate country.

Let the heavens bless our endeavours; let the sky be the only canopy that can crown our success – for we see in this determined solidarity no jewels to be flashed; no haughty power to be grabbed; no absolute control to be harnessed.

Our quest is for all Malaysians, king and subjects. Our agenda is for all humanity. Our commitment is justice, fairness and solidarity without discrimination.

We are coming together because of national duty. We are in it together because of we have a duty to uphold our revered constitution. We will stand united because we love our King, our land and our brothers and sisters we call Malaysians.

And as we sing the ‘Negara-Ku’, the deceitful, the self-glorified, the selfish, the mean, the thieving, the failures of humanity – all of them must shudder, shiver and dismantle.

Viva Malaysians. Let us show the world that peace, justice, fairness, democracy and civil liberties rightfully belong to humanity and no man (or woman) has the power and mandate to manipulate and abuse that right.

There is no democracy if it is ‘managed’ to serve only some hidden interests; there is no civil liberties if it is controlled and manipulated to preferred agendas of tyrants and regimes.

And we will for the Book of Records light that torch of democratic rights and strike open that spring of civil liberties merely by humbly marching peacefully and culminating in a sit-in protest for the world to witness.

May peace, safety, relief and joy be our only reward. For Malaysia is being born anew for all Malaysians. This moment of truth is ours for all Malaysians; is one for all future Malaysians. It is a defining reality for the world to emulate, making this planet a better place for all.

Let history be our witness. Let the heavens be our companion. Let the earth we stand on be our support. Let all Malaysians be for all Malaysians.

For justice must win; civil liberties must be rightfully reinstated; democracy re-ignited; peace and prosperity returned to society where it rightfully belongs.

God bless our day.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 12:25 am and is filed under
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A Yellow Mellow tomorrow

an instant poem to be shared quite urgently

 by
Azly Rahman

 I told you already

 of the fate of this country

 that has moved so fast

 and now we have another BERSIH rally

 yellow mellow what will it be like tomorrow?

 we all won’t know until we wear yellow

 I have advised the country already

 to go to the national square and treat it like a samba party

 why aggravate the authorities when they too wish to join in the party?

 they are all lonely and want to be clean and happy

 in their hearts they powers that be want to be corrupt-free

 what then must we do

 for a yellow mellow hot potato tomorrow?

 i am into cultural parties and and sports events aplenty

 so– BERSIH people let us do things differently

 wake up very early

 brush your teeth and eat capati and mutton curry

 get your yellow mellow -shirt and hide it in your bag together with your Rolling Stones CD

 out of the house you shall march and march and march quietly

 march and march on your own quietly to the station LRT

 don’t let anybody see your yellow tee and your lunch pack of mutton curry

 the authorities will want some of it but don’t give your capati to anybody

 ride the LRT quietly

 when folks ask you where you’re going

 tell them you’re visiting a sick auntie

 a white clean lie goes well with the spirit of a BERSIH rally

 when you reach your destiny .. opps .. destination i mean seriously

 wait till you see people suspiciously carrying a backpack of capati and mutton curry

 these are your brothers and sisters in arms and legs and limbs aplenty

 when all eyes locked in unspoken camaraderie

 jump up and down and sing hip hip hooray and do a bit of funky chicken dance to release some BERSIH energy or the Africans call it honoring the “good chi”

 mind you folks the authorities don’t want you to march or rally

 especially if you still have that capati and a plastic bag of mutton curry

 but here is what the organizers can do to make it a smooth sailing sit-in party …

 Now take your yellow mellow hot potato tee

 wear it with pride and unquestionable dignity

 it might smell a bit of capati and mutton curry — but what me worry?

 get in groups of twenty

 we will have a three-hour sports and cultural party

 do the samba

 dance the rhumba

 sing “honga honga”

 do the tai chi

 put away the capati

 do the yoga

 wear a yellow toga

 perform the malay silat

 be careful of the flying lalats

 do the breakdance

 make sure those over sixty just sit and watch quietly if they can

 sing the acapella

 singing praises of the global listing of FELDA

 dance the zapin

 remember it doesn’t go with the songs of led zeppelin

 ahhaa .. don’t forget the dance poco-poco

 banned in perlis and 13 states more to go …

 this is the time in this yellow mellow sports and cultural sit-in rodeo

 for those poor perlis folks to overdose on the poco-poco

 those with a guitar or a sitar or an avatar of the sitar and sitar

 sing the blues and the jazz tunes praising the beauty of Perak’s left and right bota

 johoreans can sing the ghazal

 accompanied by PERKASA performers from silat pulut sambal

 pahang folks can do the joget pahang

 dancers imported from telok bahang

 i’d like to join the indian classical dancers

 the bharat nadyam i think is a cool dance that provides life’s difficult answers

 ahhha … we must not forget the shaolin dance

 inspired by ancient chinese buddhist monks always in trance

 yellow mellow kung fu hot potatoes

 — not that’s a shaolin training laced with “Ohm-mi-to-fu”  as verses fit for budding Shaolin heroes

 i can go on and on and on and on

 suggesting how a yellow mellow clean rally can be Malaysia’s open big samba party

 so big that both the proper and improper authorities can see the beauty and possibilities of a peaceful rally

 even the world’s royalty can join in the yellow party

 since they wear yellow outfit daily

 they will save on BERSIH yellow tee …

 Malaysians I honor and respect thee

 Rallies need not be ugly

 Sit-ins need not be a time to get angry

 A regime change is a possibility in any democracy

 A gentlemanly and lady-like act to relinquish power held for centuries

 Deep in the heart of any regime

 is the cry to repent from all its sins

 and to take a break from doing the work of devils and djinns

 Yellow mellow hot potatoes

 Yellow mellow sweet potatoes

 We shall all see a better tomorrow

 Adios amigoes …

DR AZLY RAHMAN, who was born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York) doctorate in International Education Development and Master’s degrees in the fields of Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 400 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience spans Malaysia and the United States, over a wide range of subjects from elementary to graduate education. He currently resides in the United States.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 11:50 am and is filed under
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Bersih 3, Penang

by Allan CF Goh

The morning breaks with heavy rain,

Washing out the dark clouds of dawn.

A fresh, shining morn emerges,

Radiant with strong, bright sunshine.

This reflects the hope we carry,

For a clean and fair election.

Let the sun brighten the day,

Let it bring light to the darkness

Of  the Election Commission,

So that real justice and fairness

Will be reflected in the votes,

To truly express our free will.

This is no less the people’s right,

For Nation and democracy!

Let the people select the best

To serve an honest government.

Banish all the rabble-rousers,

And the corrupted officials.

Let us stand up and be counted,

In support of the Bersih 3.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 11:29 am and is filed under
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Bersih 3

by Allan CF Goh

Today dawns with dark war clouds,

Ominous and threatening,

But they don’t frighten the crowd,

In spite of vile foreboding.

People want clean elections,

To express truly their wills

Of national selections

To man all government tills,

With good, proper accounting,

Not with more meaningless shrills.

This is what we are fighting:

People pray for a good life,

Guarded by a government,

That ensures life without strife,

And an honest parliament.

This can only come about,

With honorable elections,

Not one pre-empt by roustabouts,

Not one fraught with deceptions.

Bersih 3 wants cleanliness

In all aspects of the nation.

Bersih wants all due fairness,

Without any corruption.

Good will triumph over evil,

Truth will finally prevail,

Let righteousness be our anvil,

To destroy elections vile.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 11:24 am and is filed under
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My fellow Malaysians

— Ambiga Sreenevasan

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 28, 2012

APRIL 28 — My Fellow Malaysians, my salams.

I can’t even begin to express the pride that we all feel, as Malaysians join hands across time and distance, to demand what is rightfully ours- free and fair elections.

Never before have we witnessed a global and nationwide movement on this scale. At the time of writing this speech, there are 80 locations worldwide and 11 locations nationwide who are gathering. On behalf of the Steering Committee and our endorsing NGO’s , may I say how humbled we are by your support and commitment to this  cause.

Today we reclaim for the rakyat their right to assemble peacefully in our public places. Today we unite in heart, soul and spirit to fight for a better Malaysia. We fight not only for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children. In short, we are fighting for the future of our beloved Malaysia.

And we fight because we have hope and we see hope all around us. We fight because we know that together we can build a Malaysia that represents all that is good in us.  All that is just and noble, righteous and compassionate.

Though we may not be legally or politically powerful , we are morally formidable because we are united in a righteous cause. We say to our leaders….stop fighting us for we will only grow stronger. Heed our voices that claim our democratic and constitutional rights. Stop ignoring our citizens overseas as if they don’t exist. Stop ignoring our demands for a clean 13th GE and an independent Election Commission.  Have the honour to face off with each other in the elections on an even playing field.

And finally, uphold our constitutional right to live in a healthy and clean environment.

This is the message of Bersih 3. This is the message of the people.

* Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan is the co-chairman of Bersih (The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections).

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 11:41 am and is filed under
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To papas who worry about mamas going to Bersih 3.0 Duduk Bantah

by Angie Ng

(from Zorro-unmasked)

We all know why BERSIH 3.0 must happen. You read newspaper every day, watch the news on TV every night, you should know why. At home, your wife busy running around, taking care of everyone at home, make sure the kids are well fed, making sure the kids have enough clothing to keep them warm, battling to get rid of all the dusts in every corner of the house. She is doing everything she can to take care of her family, and give them all the love she has.

All of sudden, she began to be aware and concern about this country. All of sudden, she said she is joining the BERSIH 3.0 rally on 28th April. You probably do not understand why. Wasn’t she aware of how dangerous it could be? Wasn’t she afraid of being caught? She must be crazy! She must be brain washed by those friends she met on Facebook! She is just too naive and too impulsive!

Well, probably you ARE NOT aware of this: She IS aware of the risks; how things might turn ugly on that day. But she also knows that this country is on her way to be a failing state when election becomes dirty and highly dangerous industries make our country their radioactive waste dump site.
 Of course she is afraid of getting caught! But she also fears that, in the future, her children will be detained under draconian laws without any reason! She also fears her children will lose their freedom of speech and their freedom to gather peacefully! These reasons are more than enough for a mother to take to the street!

If you say she is brain-washed by her friends. You are definitely hurting her feelings. You love her, you married her, you know her and you admire her… Do you really think she is such an ignoranct woman, who can’t think independently, make decisions, and take a STAND for the future of her children and their children to come?

Trust her. Even if you don’t, please let her take a day off, so she can go out to do something she feels is correct. When she returns, you’ll know that she is not just an ordinary housewife. She is wise and she has vision. You should feel proud that she is not some “tai-tais” who only ask her husband to buy her expensive handbags.

Thank you for being an understanding husband.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 12:00 am and is filed under
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Who caused Bersih 3.0 chaos?

– Muhammad Farouk

The Malaysian Insider

Apr 28, 2012

APRIL 28 – Bersih 3.0 is over, cut short by teargas and water cannons raining on those converging at Dataran Merdeka today. Thousands of Malaysians surrounded the square patch of grass, once known for its cricket, but now garlanded by barbed wires, fencing, plastic barriers and guarded by riot police and policemen.

It was supposed to be a peaceful sit-in, and for hours, it was. Until some people apparently went through the barricades of a public square barred to the public. The riot police snapped to action and plumes of teargas wafted through the air and streams of jet from water cannons rained on the people. And mayhem ensued.

Now, who do we blame for this? The authorities for not learning the lessons of Bersih 2.0? Bersih people for being hijacked by politicians? Who else can we blame?

The authorities have made up their minds about this. From yesterday, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein briefed mainstream media editors and told them the government had done its best to have a peaceful rally.

They offered Stadium Merdeka, the venue that was denied to Bersih 2.0.

The Home Minister warned that the police would have to guarantee security if things went out of hand, saying that there were politicians out to hijack the movement. This was after the police got court order that turned every Malaysian a persona non grata at Dataran Merdeka, where the British Union Jack was lowered down for the last time on our soil in 1957.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman told the same story to the foreign press yesterday. That the government had bent over backwards but the Bersih organisers were obstinate. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the same thing today too in Kuching, far away from Ground Zero in Dataran Merdeka. Funny, there were no untoward incidents in other cities in Malaysia or across the world.

Only in Dataran Merdeka. Where pandemonium broke out. Where Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and a host of other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders turned up. So, naturally, they get the blame.

Of course, the mainstream media has picked on this and have blamed these political leaders for what happened around Dataran Merdeka today. It is easy and convenient to say that they were behind the chaos. Simple mathematics really, a huge crowd facing rows of policemen under the hot sun plus opposition politicians and what do you get? Chaos.

Except, the riot police didn’t really have to fire teargas and water cannons repeatedly and chase people until 7pm. The authorities didn’t have to put up roadblocks or stop LRT trains from taking or dropping passengers at the several LRT stations in the vicinity.

It was a peaceful assembly outside the zone barred by law. The crowd was young and old, from all walks of life. They wanted to show they cared for a clean and fair election that would benefit everyone, especially the politicians.

However, the police decided otherwise. They decided to rain on the people’s parade and conveniently, the establishment can blame Anwar for it. As easy as that.

But they will have to account for the streams of Instagrams, Facebook photographs and videos uploaded since this morning to reinforce their innocence or guilt. The people know better.

We know who to blame for today’s mayhem. We know who to vote for in the next general election. The ones who stopped us from sitting down, the ones who sprayed gas and water at us because we cared for Malaysia’s future won’t get our vote but our eternal damnation.

So go on and blame Anwar and the rest. We know better.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 28 April 2012, 10:50 pm and is filed under
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Arrogance breeds contempt

blog:
a man called Nobody

Sunday April 29, 2012

I was going to go about my day as usual today. I wanted to carry out my usual weekend errands. I had some work to get done and wanted to just soak the Saturday in like most normal folk. I wanted to have a normal Saturday filled with as little activity as possible. Unfortunately, that just didn’t happen.

I was going about my day as I had planned it. Like normal dudes, I needed to take my car out to run my errands. I ran into traffic jams and unusual congestion along most roads near the Kuala Lumpur vicinity. I got into twitter and realised that the morons we have for a government had closed all roads leading into the city. Meaning they had shut down Kuala Lumpur. Meaning they had learnt nothing from the two previous editions of Bersih. They had still not learnt that people have a constitutional right to voice their opinions. How daft do you have to be to repeat the same mistake thrice?

As I had lunch, I was feeling very uneasy. I decided then that I’m definitely going for Bersih in downtown Kuala Lumpur. While others had decided weeks ago or at the very latest the day before, I decided that I was going one hour before the official march time. I hopped onto the LRT at 1pm and got into Kuala Lumpur without too many problems. Once in there I marched in camaraderie with my fellow Malaysian brothers and sisters. I went because I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I hadn’t, knowing how the government was reacting to the thought of people expressively voicing their opinions.

To be completely honest, I have been caught up in some heated debates with fellow Malaysians of late with regards to some of the promises the Opposition is making to the youths of this nation. I was starting to find the Opposition somewhat irresponsible in leading our youth. I had become a little disillusioned by the ‘everything they do is wrong’ rhetoric from the Opposition. I had grown increasingly frustrated at their lack of willingness to hold open dialogue with the government on national issues. They instead chose to walk out on more than one occasion. How on earth was that serving the people, I wondered. I was genuinely concerned that both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat were involved in ugly political warfare with the ‘rakyat’ stuck in the middle and bound to end up on the losing end. However now, like most Malaysians on the streets of Kuala Lumpur today, I feel that the Opposition is conclusively the lesser of two evils for our nation.

They closed all roads into the city, they inspected vehicles heading anywhere into the direction of Kuala Lumpur, the locked down the very square where independence gave birth to this nation and they downright displayed the arrogance of the people in power. Whether it was arrogance, concern for the safety of Malaysians or downright naivety, I was royally pissed. When I got up this morning I wasn’t going to Bersih, immaterial of the backlash from friends and family who are a part of this newfound ‘anti-establishment movement’. The actions of those in power to deter, strike fear and intimidate people from going to the heart of the city to peacefully voice their opinions, meant they unleashed someone who was beginning to sympathise with the government.

What I witnessed today in my march with thousands of Malaysians is what I’ve believed for a long time, that this country is made of real people who actually love this nation. If our dear Prime Minister wanted to portray the 1Malaysia spirit he so expensively has assembled, he should have joined the thousands of Malaysians in their march for clean and fair elections. What I saw and experienced on the streets of Kuala Lumpur today was the true spirit of 1Malaysia. It didn’t take expensive TV commercials or brand strategists or even pimped-up traditional costumes, it took a cause that’s close to the hearts of all Malaysians. People danced, held hands and sang together irrespective of race, religion or t-shirt colour. This is the Malaysia I’ve always believed to be home.

Upon reading my tweets that Datuk Ambiga has asked for protestors to disperse and seeing small crowds start to disperse, I too made my way home. I was going home with my heart full of hope and my time with complete strangers being a very positive experience. There were flowers blooming in the garden, butterflies in the sky and love all around. That was the utopian feeling I had as I was on the train back home.

To my shock when I got home and read my tweets, I read of violence breaking out and the police cracking down on protestors. It was absolutely irresponsible of the police to not expect protestors to create a ruckus and actually react with force to the ruckus. Our police have been schooled in an environment where they are in complete control and violence and fear seem to be their tools of choice. It was downright pathetic that they chose to impose themselves on the protestors. For people who are responsible for maintaining civil obedience in this country, they appear glaringly ill equipped to deal with a minority of troublemakers. The pictures of tear-gassing and water cannons have conclusively proven that the police have lost the plot. It has also given the international newsmen to again paint a silly picture that will probably deter foreign investors from considering us a ‘safe nation’.

If this was sex, then our police force is the grand master in ‘premature ejaculation’. Their responsibility should have been the peaceful dispersement of protestors irrespective of the circumstances. They should stand head and shoulders above ordinary citizens when it comes to managing civil obedience. Did the Malaysian Police do their job, yes they did. Could they have handled it better in hindsight? Hindsight was not at all required today, common sense was. To the people within the corridors of power, welcome to a bleak re-election future littered with paralysing defeats to key people. I wasn’t angry before today. I wasn’t even that angry when I left the Bersih rally. But now, I’m livid. So, thank you my dear government

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 29 April 2012, 12:51 pm and is filed under
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