Get this clear – Bersih 4 not meant as a political platform
In the past few months, we have read reports on hijacking activities in the busy Straits of Malacca.
In the past few days, there have been other hijackings in and around the country, just not in the high seas.
The latest hijackings have been the handy work of opportunistic politicians who rode on the sea of yellow to promote their political agendas at what should have been apolitical gatherings.
Even before the Bersih 4 gatherings could begin, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced the addition of freeing de facto PKR leader Anwar to the list of Bersih 4 demands.
Now, it is one thing to openly and selfishly hijack an event organised by the civil society movement but to be defensive about is truly something else.
This seemed to be the case in Kuching where state DAP secretary Alan Ling was reported by Free Malaysia Today as being critical of comments of the Bersih 4 gatherings there being “hijacked”.
He said that, “even if DAP printed yellow shirts with the Ubah bird mascot and party logo on them, what is wrong with that?”
He said the shirts showed that the party was supportive of civil society.
Ling said that the printing of any political party logo should be welcomed and questioned the need for stringent rules on the content of placards or banners.
Calling it a restriction of the freedom of expression, he pointed out that the aim of the Bersih rally was to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister.
Ling had in a statement also criticised the organisers of the gathering which ended prematurely due to the removal of the sound system and an alleged breach of conditions set by police about the presence of children at the gathering.
Sarawak DAP and Ling in particular should learn to respect the independence of civil society movements.
Bersih 4 is a civil society movement.
It is meant to be for the people and by the people.
It is a platform to make the voices of the people heard.
It is not a platform to promote one’s political agendas or party.
There is no need for yellow shirts with party logos and the Ubah bird mascot.
There is no need to show the people that the DAP supports the Bersih 4 gatherings.
It does not matter which political party supports a civil society movement.
What is needed is for people, regardless of race, religion or political affiliations, to turn up as individuals to make their voices heard and show the powers that be that the people want reforms.
Also, a person must have had to live under a rock for the past few years to not know that the DAP supports the Bersih movement.
Ling might see this as a restriction of the freedom of expression but he must remember that he is not the organiser of Bersih 4.
If he wants the people to know that Sarawak DAP is fighting for the same things Bersih 4 are, it is sufficient that he and his members show up as individuals.
Alternatively, he should just organise his own gatherings with his own rules.
Then he can have as many logos, flags and mascots he wants.
