The King has spoken, softly but firmly
By The Malaysian Insider
What does the Barisan Nasional (BN) fear that has radicalised enough people to want to march come what may?
Like other nations that have a constitutional monarch, the Malaysian King rarely speaks except while opening the Parliament or issuing greetings for festive occasions. And those speeches or statements are written by the government of the day.
Yet, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, broke his silence last night over the confrontation between Bersih 2.0 and the Najib administration that has led to detentions under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and the outlawing of the electoral reforms coalition.
The Terengganu sultan spoke softy but firmly in his statement that urged restraint and called for a return to the negotiating table, without ever referring to the July 9 rally as illegal unlike Putrajaya’s campaign in the past week where state media and even the mosques were used to demonise the movement.
The widely-respected ruler chose his words carefully, expressing belief in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s capability to handle the issue but asking the government to carry out its duties in a just and wise manner.
It was easy to understand what he meant. Detaining those who wore yellow t-shirts emblazoned with the word “bersih” was an overkill on the part of the authorities. More than 100 have been held and six are now detained under the Emergency Ordinance for purportedly trying to revive communism and ‘“waging war against the Agong”.
Their crime? Having t-shirts with images of leaders from the banned Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), the party that failed and had to lay down their arms in 1989. Did it make sense to even arrest them for wearing those t-shirts unless the police are also now policing fashion?
Perhaps it is good to recall what Bersih 2.0 wants to highlight during their rally, which they planned after being left hanging by the Election Commission (EC). The movement seeks free and fair elections in their eight-point list.
For that, Perkasa and Umno Youth want to take to the streets and protest against. For that, a national silat group has threatened violence. For that, the police have gone all out to pick up anyone wearing a yellow t-shirt with the word “bersih”. For that, we have public service clips on national television and radio rubbishing the movement and the rally.
What does the Barisan Nasional (BN) fear that has radicalised enough people to want to march come what may?
