After #Bersih4, no change in GE14
Much effort is being expended to convince the converted, while the fence-sitters and naysayers are being ignored almost completely.
Jay Jay Denis, The Malay Mail Online
If the target in #Bersih4 was for those gathered to stay the full course of 34 hours in a carnival-like setting peacefully, then last weekend’s festival was a resounding success.
But if the focus was to achieve political advancement in the lead up to the 14th General Elections, then Bersih 4 bordered on failure.
While the previous Bersih rally managed to drive the scene of Malaysian politics to its tipping point, Bersih 4 did not have a concerted focus to be able to push the current government over the edge at the next polls.
As much as we would like to believe that the rally had a Malaysian flavour to it, let’s not kid ourselves.
As we stand, Malaysian political parties on both sides of the divide operate in manner which falls back on ethnicity, especially in election campaigns.
What affected the turnout has to be addressed, including the possible involvement – or lack of – from PAS.
In addition, the numbers were lower than Bersih 3 and definitely no where close to half a million.
The predominantly middle class turnout signifies that the clamour for change is not across the board.
Malaysia’s working class which make up large portions of the semi-urban and rural population might not have got the brief from Bersih.
I was in a local talk at a Malay-majority village, all of whom did not turn up at Bersih, which at first, surprised me.
But after listening to their concerns – which ranged from the point of attending a rally, the fear of being detained, to not knowing the demands from Bersih – I understood where they were coming from.
