Bersih 3.0

By batsman 

After the Bersih 2.0 rally on 9th July, some opportunities opened which could be taken up or not. What happens next depends on whether Bersih is as open-minded as it claims to be, but judging from comments made on web blogs and critics, such opportunities if left to these commenters will be abandoned on the wayside.

Bersih 2.0 is on record as having invited BN and pro-BN NGOs to join it. It would be a great mistake if it now turns away those linked to UMNO or BN in some way whether directly or indirectly but have voiced sympathies for Bersih 2.0’s aims and demands. 

Of course there will be risks involved, but which great endeavour succeeded by avoiding all risks? Unfortunately kiahsu web blog commenters and critics have created an atmosphere of suspicion that if pandered to, will turn Bersih 2.0 into an old boys’ exclusive club dreaming of past glories. 

If Bersih 2.0 succeeds in winning over decent personalities and NGOs linked to UMNO or BN around its aims and demands for electoral reforms and clean elections, there is a great possibility that it will grow into Bersih 3.0, a truly non-party political coming together of decent and great people from the entire political spectrum. When this day comes, it will be a great day indeed for Malaysia. 

The risks involve being pulled every which way by political parties with their own agendas, but apparently this has already happened even without the participation UMNO or BN-linked NGOs. In fact it may also be happening even now in the form of party political pressure to try and keep UMNO-linked persons or NGOs out of Bersih 2.0. 

The steering committee will just have to fight harder to steer Bersih along a neutral non-party political path. People should have the confidence that the Bersih steering committee is more than capable of doing this. 

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