Bersih’s cart before horse
There is no basis for Pakatan leaders perpetually asserting they speak for the people, because of one voting day. While a democratic vote is valuable it changes too.
Praba Ganesan, MMO
A friend called from Melbourne late yesterday. Asked me if Malaysia has reached its tipping point, and I said I’m not entirely sure. But it struck me as an afterthought that perhaps more accurately at times it appears as if as a people we have been tipped over from the point — any meaningful point really — by our own volition.
Anyways, there is a rally coming your way.
Bersih wants you to sleep on the streets of Kuala Lumpur this August.
[The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) had its inaugural rally in 2007, November 10, which mustered 20,000 and broke the mould of national passivity to democracy. In 2009, the second congregation brought record numbers and captured the imagination of multicultural Malaysia despite heavy-handed police action. The third one in 2012, was a tale of two rallies as a highly-festive opening gave way and ended with tear gas and arrests. Thereafter — before and after GE13 — the speculations on when Bersih 4 would transpire have gone on indefinitely, till yesterday’s announcement.]
Bersih’s previous successes render them potent, would that ominous reputation remain so with this call to action?
On the 29th day of Octavius’ month they intend to fill the city with sleeping bags and stay there to the eve of Merdeka in order to achieve an objective, or two or even 14.
Why?
Mostly to end the Najib Razak administration, apparently. Tall order when you consider that he’s just axed his deputy. Ignoring the large sledgehammer that just swung hard, without skipping a heartbeat, they want to replace the prime minister of the country through an open act of dissent from the electorate — a major street protest to change government.
Massive ask. Huge challenge.
“But if you are at the store, you might as well pick up a few more trinkets” thinking crept conveniently in as Bersih is now not only ASKING for the PM’s resignation when they begin gathering August 29 and initiate night-long festivities till daylight of August 30. They have 13 other demands (don’t worry they are numbered). Which include the establishment of an independent police complaints and misconduct commission (IPCMC); and freedom of information laws at federal and state levels.
Where do I stand?
Why the animosity, some might ask. I don’t have any, I’ve been at all the Bersih rallies and been successfully gassed each time — though they do not match the sheer madness of the 2007 Hindraf rally.
So I have had skin in the game.
I want them to succeed because asking for fair and free elections resonates with a population long suspicious of intentions when it has the words politics, power or democracy.
They thrived on that for years.
However, a cursory look at their website presently will show that they are hardly bipartisan this time around.
