ARTICLE 1
Bersih 3.0: Two visions for democracy? – by Kevin Soo – April 30, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 — Studying abroad last year, I missed Bersih 2.0 and felt a sense of regret each time I listened to the stories my friends had to tell of their experiences that day. Providence permitted my attendance at Bersih 3.0 last Saturday.
In the past few years, this is a story that has been unfolding at an accelerating pace: the story of Malaysia striving to grow as a democracy.
As legitimate as Bersih’s demands are, what drives people to brave the crowds and the inherent risks of such a gathering? Mere intellectual assent to Bersih’s demands shouldn’t be enough to bring thousands to the city streets.
I suggest a major reason for the decision of most people to flood the streets of KL on Saturday was a desire to be a part of the story. For those who agree to Bersih’s demands, along with it is the recognition by many that they must themselves be the agents working for the desired outcome.
Alternate stories
I must first confess that I left soon after Datuk Ambiga called the rally a success and advised people to disperse slowly before 3pm. I headed home, reflecting on my part in the story, ready to write out my thoughts when I arrived home. Of course, everyone now knows that the rally drastically changed — but I only found out after getting text messages on the LRT and checking the news myself upon reaching home.
This put me in the unique position of having lived out one version of the story in my mind (based on what I had experienced up to that point), before having it rewritten as I learned of the actual outcome of Bersih 3.0.
Thus, I had two sets of reflections: one based on the alternate history I had thought would transpire, and one based on actual history. Instead of scrapping one and presenting the other, I felt that together they would offer a glimpse into the yearning for democracy by Bersih supporters.
An ideal world
As I reflected on the parts of Bersih 3.0 I had been a part of — the sense of belonging I got from seeing so many like-minded people, the sense of cheer that grew along with the crowd’s size and the euphoria at chanting together — I realised that the most powerful moments were those where significance was distributed to all people present. In contrast, the speeches of leaders could not give us a fraction of courage that singing “Negaraku” together did. In other words, the power comes from the collective — when democracy is at its strongest.
Democracy, in its (ideal) goal of distributing power to all individuals, satisfies what the philosopher Hegel called the “struggle for recognition”. Along with the humbling realisation that one plays only a small part in the whole comes the terrifying revelation that one is at last playing a part.
Paradoxically, the way to significance is to take on that small role, not necessarily losing yourself in the masses, but involving yourself in the part that every citizen in a democracy is called to play. Many present at Bersih 3.0 would have seen it as their civic duty for the country they love — even though their individual voices would not have been heard.
This contrasts with the archetypal literary vision of the hero, where significance is derived from individual acts of heroism. But as is evident in Bersih, the power of the movement lies in its numbers and not in any one person — the large turnout was the crucial reason Ambiga called it a success before advising us to disperse. The government and Election Commission need not listen to a few solitary voices no matter how valid their arguments are, but they cannot ignore thousands of citizens merely showing up in Kuala Lumpur even if all they do is sit down and chant slogans.
This is why it is crucial that Bersih remains a civil society movement — hijacked by personalities and politicians, it may get more sound bites at press conferences and visibility but it will lose all legitimate power.
So why the push for democracy? So that citizens can finally attain significance by taking on the role they are all called to in society. In a rally like this, each plays only a small part but it is nonetheless the appointed cross to bear. Nothing more, but also nothing less. We are not merely spectators, but agents bringing about genuine democracy in Malaysia.
The real world
I had left believing that democracy, the sharing of power, was good for Malaysia because it brought the most good for its people in their struggle for significance. If this account sounds overly idealistic, reality hit me hard and fast when I heard of how the rally ended.
I won’t speculate much here on the causes of the chaos that transpired, except to say that amidst the theories of involving provocation and saboteurs, there were undoubtedly Bersih supporters who acted with violence. Many friends of mine are outraged that our contribution will be tainted by the senselessness of these individuals.
This could not bring me further from the (brief) vision I had of my ideal world. Bersih was meant to showcase the best of us, and make a case for why democracy should work. Even those who were cynical and expected a harsh police presence would have remembered the accounts from Bersih 2.0 of the collective spirit and people helping one another in the face of danger. But to have violence instigated and perpetuated by those pushing for democracy went contrary to what many hoped for and expected.
But even as my optimism gave way I maintained my belief that democracy is what Malaysia needs and what we must continue to fight (peacefully) for. However, while I briefly saw democracy as a vehicle to Malaysia’s good because if fulfils people’s drive for significance, I now see it as necessary for a different reason.
The end of Bersih 3.0 showed that the line between good and evil runs not across party lines or those for/against a cause. The line runs down the middle of every human heart. Without diminishing the culpability of the government and police, even earnest supporters of Bersih were shown to be capable of violence and hatred. The writer C.S. Lewis said that democracy was necessary because “no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows”.
In other words, we need democracy not because we are good, but because we are fallen and imperfect. The dilution of power amongst a nation’s people is necessary to avoid any one person or group to have the platform for unleashing the evil that potentially lies within. This doesn’t void their potential for good, but it is naïve to believe that we are each not capable of the slow descent to corruption.
A single vision
But this also means that those seemingly on the side of evil and corruption must still know what goodness is. Just like Bersih supporters revealed their worst when provoked, perhaps the best of those leaning towards violence lies deep within, conditioned and numbed into impotence but waiting to be redeemed.
The sobering events of April 28 (leading to my opposing reflections) need not leave us in a state of hopelessness. The best and the worst of human nature were showcased — but both make a strong case for the need for democracy in Malaysia.
What we must remember is that the fight for democracy lies not just on a national level to combat corruption and injustice — it lies within as we struggle each day to do the right and moral thing. So for all of you who went peacefully and courageously, who didn’t throw the first stone (literally) and who turned the other cheek (figuratively): blessed are you peacemakers.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Evil is when a property ‘investor’ holds 10s to 1000s of units of unusable and crumbling shophouses and offices when truly productive business are destroyed by loansharks part of the local business cartels, and simple lower income families who are homeless or severely indebted, due to, or unable to access those half million so-called ‘shophouses’ which are a minimum when educations cost 10s to 100s of thousands.
This is the flaw of uncontrolled Capitalism and the need for aspects of Soacialism/Marxism in governance. Capitalism only creates collusion and greedy loophole writing MPs and plutocrats sequestering extreme wealth to the demise of wealth distribution and the rise of anarchy from extreme poverty of the 99% who will doubtless be pushed towards a French Revolution, with the plutocracy now being the ‘Bastille’ of today and the anarchists/Marxists (moderate Marxists, again extreme anything will never work, and we arein extreme Capitalism conditions as of now) being the guillotine.
‘I must first confess that I left soon after Datuk Ambiga called the rally a success and advised people to disperse slowly before 3pm.’ . . .
More Bersih c0ckt3451ng. IMHO Ambiga is a tool of the establishnent to waste the energies and the funds of protesters who could be better off running as candidates to challenge theestavlishment. As noted earlier, Bersih amounts to nothing without lawsuits by trhe so called leaders. Angry crowds do not gather for nothing. And the youth would be better off forming NEW political parties that should remove corrupt and racist BN and also nepotistic and clique political power sequestering, term limitless mentality (ala Mubarak) PR.
Bersih was a failure and waste of youthful energy and bail out fund resources, the so called leaders ‘masturbating’ the people to no purpose except to defuse energies that could form new political parties and coalitions as the proposed 3rd force to displace useless coalitions BN and PR. 3rd forcers and youthful protesters should run for :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and GTFO of parliament after 2 terms of doing some good, not parasiting off the Rakyat for decades, holding term limitless MP seats and throwing hegelian dialectic nonsense instead of ENDING taxes or Vehicular AP (took ‘Family Bloc’ Nurul near 3 years to act on this) or Tolls (PAS pulled off 1 bulldoze but that seemed to be the all of Pakatan’s action against government-GLC collusion-encroachment upon the regular citizen’s ‘Freedom of Navigation’ ON LAND – in their own country to boot . . . ), National Service Bill’s forced military conscriptions (illegal by any interpretation of the UNHCR), or the all important 3 items listed above.
ARTICLE 2
‘Hidden hand’ behind SWP’s entry – Monday, 23 April 2012 Super Admin – Joseph Tawie, Free Malaysia Today
KUCHING: While Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has welcomed the registration of the Sarawak Workers’ Party (SWP), which is linked to “buddy” Sng Chee Hua, insiders in both the state Barisan Nasional and the opposition are wary.
Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian urged the people to examine SWP’s policies and gauge for themselves which way the party will lean towards.
“Is SWP inclined to support BN or is it inclined to support Pakatan Rakyat policies for Sarawak?
“The people must examine whether this party is built on the basis of fighting or defending the rights of Sarawakians such as the native customary rights land, employment and the 18- and 20-point agreements.
“This are the things we want SWP to answer,” said Bian, who is the Ba’Kelalan assemblyman.
“To me it is obvious that SWP is inclined towards being BN-friendly. So it is clear that it is not with us.
“These things can assist voters in the villages to make a good judgment, and I know they are fully aware of the party’s policies.
“I am confident they will make a wise decision. This coming election is crucial to Sarawakians who want change. And this is our bigger mission,” he said.
SWP aiming for PRS seats
Santubong MP Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who is the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, questioned the motive of the party to contest in the coming election.
“It risks becoming a mosquito party. It will only appear during the election season, but disappear when the election is over. This would only confuse the people.
“If the party really fights for the people, it must make sure that it continues to work for the interests of the people before and after the election,” Wan Junaidi said.
Sng had said that SWP would target only six constituencies which are allocated to PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak), a member of the BN coalition.
The constituencies are Julau, Selangau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.
Lately Sng, who was the former Julau MP, has been seen mobilising support for the party in Julau, Selangau, Kanowit and Hulu Rajang.
PRS vice-president and Tamin assemblyman Joseph Mauh said that his party is not perturbed by the emergence of SWP, describing it as an “old wine in a new bottle”.
‘Old wine, new bottle’
“We are not worried about the new party because it is old wine in a new bottle, and those who had drunk the wine would know its taste,” he said, referring to Sng’s previous records as Julau MP and assemblyman for Pelagus in the days of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).
“SWP may be a new party but certainly it is no stranger to us. I don’t think it can win any seat,” he said.
But what puzzled him is that the party, while claiming to be BN-friendly, is fighting PRS, a member of the BN.
“It is very funny and there is no logic,” he said.
“Why is it targeting PRS? What does this mean?” Mauh asked.
State BN secretary-general, Stephen Rundi, who is also PBB secretary-general, regarded SWP as the BN’s opponent.
“We will treat every opponent in the same way. Similarly if the new party wishes to oppose us, we will fight back,” Rundi reportedly said.
But his boss, Taib seems to have a different view. He has welcomed SWP into the political scene with gusto, saying “the more the merrier” as the state practised democracy.
Comments
written by Vincenzo, April 24, 2012 23:39:44
@Alan Newman
Yes, Sarawakians are relenting and forgiving people. It is our culture. We are a likeable, peaceful and hospitable people although we are slowly changing due to circumstances forced upon us. It’s a shame we have to change to be nastier in order to fight for what are rightfully ours. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense – why do we have to fight for what are already ours?
So, I need to ask you why your kind put us in this position where we have to fight to keep what are ours. Why did the Cobbold Commission not undertake a referendum for the people of Sarawak in the early 1960s to determine whether we want to help form Malaysia or not? It is because of Malaysia that we are in the shit that we are in today. Why did the Brits ( Aussies and Kiwis included in the 1960s then ) abandoned us to the wolves?
Alan, your kind cannot claim any moral high grounds and tell us that it is ” zero tolerance & striking back with the greatest force ” time when it was your kind who left us in this shit in the first place. What are you going to do to right the wrong that your kind left us with?
To call us gutless, pathetic, tragic, you have to remember that our once proud people took heads and waged wars even on the White Rajahs and took the heads of quite a few Whites. If the need arise again, I doubt if we will ever hesitate.
And if you send us a lot of money, then many of us will go to BERSIH which will be held in KL some 600 miles across the South China Sea from Borneo Island. Aiya, some 50 years of being Malaysian have left us Sarawakians very poor since much economic development and stimuli do not reach our people. Until today, we only have one coastal road going from Kuching to Miri. There are no other roads in the interior of Sarawak and more than 1 million people live in the jungles in the interior off-grid and with no piped water.
You further wrote that that ” Politicians are the roots of all the problems in the world ” . Well, I respectfully disagree. In a democratic system, the systems and institutions that are put in place must be adequately independent of each other. The checks and balances provided for in any constitution must be cast in stone for any democratic society to function effectively. It is when the independence of these democratic systems and institutions are curtailed that democracy begins to fail us. Therefore for a democracy to function effectively, there must be adequate independence and checks and balances on the institutions and systems of a democratic society.
On the other hand, for a person to be truly fair, that person must have impeccable integrity but if we agree that every man has his price, no matter where they are, obviously, any democratic political system will fail sometimes since they are made up of people. What is important is that when the system fails, there must be effective agencies to remove the compromised part from the system.
Alan, I know you meant well and on behalf of us Sarawakians, I want to thank you for the concerns that you have for us. However, let me assure you that the winds of change are blowing as it is also in Sabah and in Malaya and I am confident that we will see a change in government in the future. There is only so much nonsense that the people of this country can take for so long. Enough is enough. However, I must remind you that we are in this shit mainly because of British (Australian and Kiwis included) highhandedness.
…
written by alan newman, NZ, April 24, 2012 17:03:29
Why are you so forgiving & relenting? Have they- PBB, BN got a trace of the people’s interest at heart? NO! It’s endless tricks, acrobatics & deception to stay in power. Not after 55 years of BN & UMNO! It must now be zero tolerance & striking back with the greatest force. If you research globally & think thoroughly: Politicians are the roots of all the problems in the world: pillage & plunder; cronies; in-equality of races & incomes; apartheid; hardship & grief turning to crime & tragedy; trillions of $$$ wasted worldwide on corruption, thefts, land-grabs, resource-grabs, amassing of projects, money outflow & laundering, white elephants & kickbacks; abuses, mismanagements, misuses, crime-fighting, strife, riots, wars. In the end, to cling to power & luxury, they will kill. Look at Idi Amin, Africa, N. Korea, Arab Spring.
…
written by alan newman, NZ, April 24, 2012 17:00:10
If you research globally & think thoroughly: Politicians are the roots of all the problems in the world: pillage & plunder; cronies; in-equality of races & incomes; apartheid; hardship & grief turning to crime & tragedy; trillions of $$$ wasted worldwide on corruption, thefts, land-grabs, resource-grabs, amassing of projects, money outflow & laundering, white elephants & kickbacks; abuses, mismanagements, misuses, crime-fighting, strife, riots, wars. In the end, to cling to power & luxury, they will kill. Look at Idi Amin, Africa, N. Korea, Arab Spring.
So why are you so forgiving & relenting? Have they – BN, UMNO got a trace of the people’s interest at heart? NO! It’s endless tricks, acrobatics & deception to stay in power. Not after 55 years of BN & UMNO! It must now be zero tolerance & striking back with the greatest force.
…
written by alan newman, NZ, April 24, 2012 16:55:05
In New Zealand, Taito Philip Field, an MP was jailed for corruption (eg using new immigrants to paint his houses), and after 31 years! your Sarawak Chief Minister is still walking and talking proud and stealing billions from you. In NZ He would have been in jail 30 and half years ago. Why are you so gullible & forgiving? For me, NOT ANOTHER HOUR! None of you have any guts. Pathetic. Tragic…. And how many are going out to BERSIH gathering?
…
written by Vincenzo, April 24, 2012 11:57:43
Excerpts from the story,
“The constituencies are Julau, Selangau, Kanowit, Hulu Rajang, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman. ”
Brian Pirit,
Do these look like Chinese-based areas to you? Chinese-based party? To replace SUPP? You’ve got to be joking. Why must you look at anything from a racialist perspective? SWP is supported and most likely financed by the Sng Family. But, I know George Lagong the assemblyman for Pelagus is Larry’s uncle. So it is not entirely a Chinese affair. But you seem to see this as a Chinese plot. I think BTN has gotten to you. But you are right about. This exercise is about splitting Dayak votes.
…
written by John Rimbau Sarawak, April 24, 2012 09:54:47
When SNAP was strong in the 70s and early 80s, it was split right down the middle by the emergence of PBDS. But when PBDS in turn became stronger, it was split in the same manner as SNAP was. The same old stry was replayed once again with the SUPP which is now split between the SIbu and Kuching/Miri factions. This is the same for PRS with the formation of SWP. And who is behind all these shenanigans ? The Thief Minister of Sarawak of course, Taib is his name.
…
written by brian pirit, April 24, 2012 01:05:09
The Divide and Rule master destroyer at his game again. Another chinese base party to replace the out of favour SUPP perhaps? Sng said he has the dayaks at heart but why divide the Dayaks with this chinese base party? Certainly a conspiracy between a fake dayak and a melayNOW to further split the dayaks. Why esle would he approve of the registration of SWP? Lets wipe that stupid grin off his face this coming GE!
…
written by malsia1206, April 23, 2012 21:26:53
When you have an ally by your side, he better stay weaker than you.
When your ally gets too strong for comfort, your own position is at risk.
Both PRS and SPDP are getting to unravel the nerves of the CM. Both have a strong support rural base. Should either or both play the u-turn, the CM may languish in the newly-built prison in the Kuching outskirt.
So welcome abroad, SWP. I need a checkmate.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
More fail. This is intended to impose Hudud eventually, and as mentioned elsewhere, Hudud can only be applied on a case by case person by person acceptance. This is illegal and should be challenged by democratic Islamic scholars as ‘there can be no compulsion in religion‘ (Quran verse, Al Bakara 2:16). Such fatwas will be issued in a manner that compels. Islam if used as a political tool of control will damn any who do not follow the spirit of the Quran, especially more so for affecting non-Muslims.
ARTICLE 3
Guan Eng rebukes Tunku Aziz: It’s your remarks that are “irresponsible”, not Bersih – by Lim Guan Eng – Friday, 27 April 2012 16:08
With a politically-motivated Elections Commission (EC), Malaysians face the dirtiest general elections in history. As all other efforts to clean up the electoral process has failed, civil society has no other choice but to group under Bersih to involve all Malaysians to press for clean elections in the Bersih sit in protest tomorrow.
I am therefore compelled to publicly chastise Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz’s irresponsible remarks opposing Bersih’s right to assemble peacefully and conduct a sit-in protest at Dataran Merdeka at 2pm 28.4.2012 to press for clean, free, fair and independent elections.
Alone on his stand
Tunku’s remarks is not the DAP stand but his own personal view. Senator Tunku is alone amongst the entire DAP Central Executive Committee in his stand on Bersih 3.0 at Dataran Merdeka.
Tunku has not notified the party leadership that he would be making his position publicly. By making his stand public, Tunku has contradicted the principle of collective leadership and decision-making where whilst one can disagree, but as leaders we all have to abide by the majority decision made by the party leadership.
This has placed the party in an embarrassing position of being criticized by our own Senator for fully endorsing Bersih’s sit-in protest as an exercise of a basic human right of peaceful assembly.
By opposing Bersih when so many Malaysians are working hard to effect change for a clean electoral process, Tunku has undermined their efforts and given a gift to BN and the tainted EC.
Time has come to ensure a bright and clean future for our kids
I have conveyed to Tunku Aziz the party’s rebuke and the unhappiness of almost all DAP members at the public expression of his personel views against Bersih’s sit-in protest. I have also impressed upon him that whilst DAP allow differences of opinion within the party, publicly opposing a policy decision taken by the party in the manner Tunku has conducted himself does more harm than good.
For the electorally abuses by a politically inclined EC, where its top officials were UMNO members that has allowed itself to be used as a tool by BN, DAP fully supports and will mobilize its members for the Bersih sit-in protest for clean elections on 2pm 28 April 2012 nation-wide. DAP urges all Malaysians to join the Bersih rallies nation-wide, especially at Dataran Merdeka.
DAP strongly condemns the actions and warnings by the government, especially Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, to ban this peaceful sit-in protest by instilling fear of untoward incidents. The use of fear tactics only betrays the real character of the BN government as dictatorial and tyrannical. As American President Thomas Jefferson said,
When a government fears the people, there is liberty;
When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The most fearful thing is term limitless Oligarchs and NEPOTISM in political parties that destroy activists instead of welcoming them so that they can be afforded some protection for ‘services rendered’. I do not agree with Tunku’s tacit approval of apartheid or lack of Article 18 UNHCR by a glaringly obvious non address of the issues (thus rendering the lack of address by LGE on the same apartheid issue even more obvious), but a political party that has no principles or ethics deserves no support from ANYONE.
For the neglect that near caused and has caused deaths, I am 100% with Tunku if that will remove product of nepotism LGE’s quorumless nepotistic golden parachute beneficiary mouth shooting off here on the media and online. Replacing the devil BN with the DAP deep blue sea (red ocean type to boot I warn), if not an option. How about Tunku lead the 3rd Force and drop these bunch of unethical nepotistic and uninclusive Pakatan losers who steal and parrot ideas instead of giving credit where is due. Have at Pakatan! And BN is an apartheid party so corrupt that the Human Rights Council should be shamed for allowing Malaysia to be a member of the Human Rights panel. Idiot politicians! 3rd Force when are you making your move? Get together and start organising yourselves, we had enough of the family blocs and selfishness of Pakatan and the apartheid-racism and corruption of BN!
How about this below social contract?
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
All family bloc and apartheid and fundo 3rd world countries deserve no respect or UN standing. UN should boycott and condemn Malaysia at every turn hereon. LGE is one Tunku short of getting his a$$ canned by the BN, but pushes for idiotic face gaining, point scoring b.s. by arguing instead of Ending Apartheid or obtaining the above 3 Items with Tunku Aziz’s help. As mentioned before, LGE is the worst so-called ‘leader’ ever. File that lawsuit yet? Ready to resign as CM over apartheid? No? Then GTFO of Penang, there is no quorum to justify that CM’s seat with, and dad is just a Mubarak style term limitless MP that deserves to be booted for destroying democracy with cult of personality. Without address of apartheid, arguing with Tunku makes for a meaningless political party.
ARTICLE 4
Bersih: The negotiation for freedom — Zara Kahan – April 27, 2012
APRIL 27 — Umno’s old guards have called (their) Malaysia’s version of democracy a “guided” democracy, as if we are a nation of brain-damaged children who need our hands held at the polls.
Label it however you like. In actuality, the democratic nature and state of freedom in every nation in the world is not a static thing; it is a continuous negotiation between those in power and the people who have decided to give them that power.
Governing a nation is no easy thing, and certain limitations to freedom are necessary to maintain stability and security. The fairness of these limitations, however, depend on the nature of the people we elect, and human beings are corruptible creatures, susceptible to greed, fear and gross errors in judgment.
Even in the oldest democracies, such as America and Britain, the extent of freedom enjoyed by every citizen is not a static concept. The Patriot Act has allowed extreme infringements on individual liberty, and a sizeable number of these individuals accept it because it is done in the name of keeping bomb-wielding jihadis away from them.
Similarly, from the very conception of Malaysia, we have accepted several trade-offs. Want a stable economy? Shut up. Want a safe nation? Let us jail men who criticise the government.
Malaysia as we know it is a result of silent negotiations done over the years, in which the inaction of the majority of people signified that this is an acceptable bargain.
Is Bersih a sign that the majority opinion has changed? It’s hard to quantify since both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat love exaggerating the amount of support they have while most folks will keep their opinions to themselves.
Numbers aside, this is simply another turn in a cycle of pushing and pulling for more freedom, and Bersih will not solve everything. Neither will a new government, no matter what Anwar Ibrahim may promise you.
There is no big cure that will save us; even if all 22 recommendations of the Bersih committee replaced our national anthem, our freedom will never be guaranteed infinitely.
Sorry people, but our mechanism relies on human beings and the flesh is weak.
On a more positive note, the dialogue between Us The Rakyat and Kerajaan Yang Dikasihi has definitely gone beyond the silence and grudging consent that plagued the years of the generation before us.
There is a voice that will ring in Dataran Merdeka tomorrow, and no matter what you think of it, as Malaysians we must appreciate the quality of that voice; strong, clear and unyielding.
This is a tone that will create a difference in this ongoing negotiation to protect our rights as free men and women.
* Zara Kahan reads The Malaysian Insider
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Zara sounds like she’s from the generation that she labelled ‘before us’. This makes this response writer’s (moi) generation earlier than Zara’s as evn contrasted by those evidently younger than moi. Hey old lady, stop speaking for the establishment and pretending top be the YOUNG VOICE of Bersih. Freedom is INFINITE, and these punks will be wild. But perhaps limited by zones – FOR NOW . . . you beneficiary dreamer or post-beneficiary shill!
We’ll uncover how your dad and your family got their wealth or if they are involved in orphanages as a certain Mokhtar character might be, behind her corrupted older generation beneficiary of cronyism dad (if not true, please ignore). Sickening.
Aged, middle aged and young. Got it? Zara belongs to the ‘RPK Old’ bunch even if actually a young person. So stop talking as if ‘this generation’ is to be limited in acquisition of social democratic protections. We’ll abolish taxes and apartheid, as well as make apostasy legal in a single election as well as establish nudist and RLD, OPZ, zones in international cities Insyallah (for non-Muslims of course). REAL PEOPLE first not, the aged and the stuffy or the establishment or establishment fette-er. The negotiation for freedom is unending and absolute, as anything less means authoritarianism at worst (though overpopulation can ruin everything . . . ).
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Proper Method and Why ‘Bersih’ (0.3 Beta) May Be A Strawman
This group of leaders can file a lawsuit that is legally binding that international observers can watch. Then IF the leaders get arrested, a ‘March for Freedom of the Arrested (that peacefully filed lawsuits)’ becomes appropriate. Not the leaders march amidst media fanfare without a lawsuit and people induced to join getting hurt. AND the ‘leaders’ got away scot free, which indicates possible collusion with BN ! See article on Ambiga and Khairy sitting doesn for a ‘tete-a-tete.’ This achieves nothing and shows there is no risk to the so-called Bersih ‘leaders’ (. . . now we know why Onsokumaru landed on that water bottle . . . ).
EPIC SMILING (Crocodile) FAIL. People were beaten and tear gassed causing several to faint. From reports 1 person died, 2 others crushed by a car. Though fortunately for the rest, no worse than temporary detentions occurred. Smiling broadly again eh? File those lawsuits like real leaders to avoid this sort of thing. Stop being strawmen clowns!
Understand what’s going on Rakyat? Hegelian Dialectic! Run for candidacy as independents or join 3rd Force Parties on the below 3 items!
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Read up on what Hegelian-Dialectic is :
http://dont-tread-on.me/?p=1444
Article 5
Anwar’s ‘gesture politics’ raises eyebrows – Bernama – Friday, 04 May 2012 17:14
KUALA LUMPUR– Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim often likes to portray himself to the world as Malaysia’s great crusader, peaceably agitating for change against a seemingly unbending, authoritarian regime.
After Bersih 2.0 last year, he played the victim quite persuasively, mobilising his friends in the foreign media to attack the government for taking “brutal action” against peaceful protesters.
But after his questionable role in Bersih 3.0, Anwar’s star appears to be waning. In fact, things have gone downhill that — far from heralding him as a democrat — many are now accusing Anwar of inciting violence.
Video footages from Bersih 3.0 posted on YouTube shows Anwar making a curious rolling gesture with his hands to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali. Within seconds, PKR supporters breached the police barricades and charged into Merdeka Square, prompting the police to respond with tear gas and water cannons to prevent a stampede.
In an interview with Radio Australia on Tuesday, Anwar denied that his hand gesture was a signal to protestors to breach the barricades, instead claiming implausibly that it meant, “negotiate with the police”.
People will make up their own mind about the truth, but so far, few outside observers appear convinced.
“Mr Anwar has some explaining to do”, was The Economist’s verdict – and, here in Malaysia, Anwar’s role in Bersih 3.0 has been similarly criticised by people from many ends of the political spectrum.
At a PKR press conference on Monday, independent filmmaker Benji Lim accused Anwar of endangering the lives of protesters, as well as jeopardising Bersih’s cause. The protest “was completely hijacked by the opposition,” he exclaimed, before being bundled unceremoniously out of the room.
Even Bersih 3.0 chief organiser Ambiga Sreenevasan has lamented Bersih’s politicisation by opposition leaders, telling journalists that she “cannot control what they say”.
Anwar has dismissed any criticism of his conduct. Instead, at the press conference, he launched a bizarre attack on the government, accusing the Barisan Nasional leadership of behaving like Stalin and Hitler.
He went on to suggest his fate was comparable to a Nazi concentration camp victim – a claim made even more appalling because he was speaking on the exact anniversary of Hitler’s death.
This episode, whichever way you cut it, also raises broader questions about Anwar himself, and his opposition allies.
Can persons who hijack a peaceful rally for their personal political ends be fit to lead a nation of 28 million people?
Do they have a steady, prudent hand that we need to guide our country’s burgeoning economy?
To those who know the opposition politicians well, say that what happened on April 28 was unsurprising.
This time round, the opposition politicians have been caught on film footages, which will bear witness to their actions.
Political observers say that Anwar has often been seen indulging in “hand gesture politics”, revelling in grand spectacles but offering voters little in terms of a detailed blueprint for transformation.
Finally, many would say, Anwar’s “hand gesture politics” appear to have backfired.
Don’t be surprised to see him spend much of the coming weeks and months explaining what his Bersih hand gesture really meant.
— BERNAMA
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Try 2:02 for some ‘hand gesture politics’ – which nepotistic dynasty’s throne got shot up? Was Azmin the signal boy? Note the ‘Khinzirim’ . . . 100 million I♥U for those deserving if not careful . . . Kano says, ‘hello baby’ . . . ( . . . btw listen to – 0:07 to 0:22 – without video – is for ‘bears’, ah directors and producers, know you not what you present us? . . .)
Heres a ‘hand gesture’ for all ‘careerist’ term limitless, nepotistic ‘reserve political posts for family bloc and run political party like family business’ politicians . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_%28gesture%29
ARTICLE 6
Bar to hold EGM next week on Bersih 3.0 – May 04, 2012
Lim labelled as “incomprehensible” the police force’s failure to take stock of its previous mismanagement of public assemblies. — File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Bar Council chief Lim Chee Wee today called for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) next Friday to discuss the storm of issues surrounding last Saturday’s Bersih 3.0 rally for electoral reforms, two days after accusing the authorities of human rights violations and widespread brutality.
Notice for the May 11 EGM was issued on the Malaysian Bar’s official website earlier this afternoon, to discuss a motion “in relation to the events of and surrounding the public rally on 28 April 2012 organised by Bersih 3.0, and matters in connection therewith”.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier today labelled last Saturday’s demonstration an attempt by certain quarters to overthrow the elected Barisan Nasional (BN) government, as he hardened his administration’s position towards the electoral reform movement.
Lim had previously said that the Bar’s monitoring team found more instances of police brutality compared to last year’s July 9 Bersih event.
He previously said the authorities failed to take heed of criticism and recommendations outlined by the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) with regards to police conduct during Bersih’s first two rallies, and lamented on how “little has changed.”
“It is incomprehensible, if not a reflection of the sheer incompetence or arrogance of the police force, that it has not learnt from its past mistakes in the management of assemblies of people exercising their constitutional right, so well documented and analysed by Suhakam in its two reports and the pending ongoing inquiry.
“Police brutality this time around has been magnified; there is more police brutality (compared to last year.) There was arbitrary use of tear gas, water cannons,” Lim told a news conference last Tuesday.
The lawyer said that last weekend’s events showed an “urgent” need for the police force to undergo a “transformation programme”, to be changed by force of statute through the establishment of the recommended Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
He said the Bar’s interim report on the Bersih 3.0 rally had found that the rally was peaceful until around 3pm when the police unleashed water cannon and tear gas on the crowd; the use of force by the police without any obvious provocation or cause, was far worse, indiscriminate, disproportionate and excessive; and police brutality more widespread.
It also noted a concerted effort by the police to prevent and stop any recording of their actions and conduct. Such actions included firing tear gas directly at the crowd and in such pattern as to box in the participants rather than allow them to disperse quickly.
According to the council, this was found to elicit pockets of retaliatory behaviour by some participants of the rally. The police were also observed taunting and mocking the crowd. When items were thrown by some of the participants at the police, the police responded in kind.
Lastly, the report highlighted that not all police personnel were wearing and displaying their police identification number on their uniforms.
Lim also said that the authorities had disregarded provisions within the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (UNBPUFF), the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (UNCC), and Amnesty International guidelines.
The Bar EGM will take place at the Sunway Putra Hotel (formerly the Legend Hotel) in the city at 3pm next Friday.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Hold an EGM about APARTHEID and EXTREME RELIGION in Malaysian Law, and Malaysian Constitution first, Strawman (Bar) Council.
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
malaysiandemocracy 