Just fix the problems, get the systems right, have free and fair elections, then the people will have no reason to come out in protest in a peaceful rally anymore.
That is the simple call by social activist and writer Zan Azlee on how the government can deal with the issue of Bersih 5.
Bersih 5 is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur, and other locations around the country as well as overseas, on Nov 19. It is organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, better known as Bersih 2.0.
Referring to the government’s disapproval for the rally taking place, be it by using threats (from related parties), or the excuse that businesses, tourism and other daily aspects of life in the city would be disrupted, Zan said that’s the whole point.
“That’s what these demonstrations are supposed to do – disrupt everyday life to bring attention to more important and pressing issues – but peacefully and without violence, of course. It’s a part of a healthy and thriving democracy.
“And if the government doesn’t want the world to perceive Malaysia as being unstable, then fix the problems that caused the people to come out and protest in the first place.
“If it is corruption that people are unhappy about, then fix that. If it is unfair elections, then fix that,” Zan wrote in a commentary in Asian Correspondent yesterday.
He explained too, that the authorities must understand that there is no simple motivation for a rally of the size of previous Bersih rallies to take place unless there are pressing matters for which tens of thousands, maybe more, want to group together.
“These demonstrations do not happen just because. There has to be a very pressing reason for tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of people to actually want to organise themselves and come out at the same time with a shared belief and in solidarity,” Zan said.
This is the fifth time that a Bersih rally will be taking place. The first one was held in 2007, with subsequent rallies in 2011, 2012 and last year.
And the culture of demonstrations is not new to Malaysia or to the Malays too, Zan explained.
“The very existence of the ruling party (Umno), and our status as a sovereign nation is all based on street demonstrations and protest.
“Way back in the pre-independence era when the Malay states were colonies of the British empire, our forefathers constantly protested and demonstrated against the colonial powers.
“They called for independence and expressed their desire to see the British leaving,” Zan said of the actions by Umno and other political groupings in the 1940s and 1950s
Lamenting how history has been forgotten, or simply ignored out of pure hypocrisy, Zan said the actions of the nation’s forefathers dispels all the statements by the current government that protesting and rallies are not in our culture.
Source : FMT Reporters Online
Hornbill Unleashed 
Dear Mr. Najib Razak,
I’m doing this on behalf of my family, friends and the rest of the rakyat; all of whom have no other way of voicing out pleas that fall on nothing but deaf ears and stone cold hearts.
Today, you decided on an increase on the price of fuel and cooking oil. Today, you decided on going ahead with your plans of increasing the cost of basic necessities for living. Today, you decided to bring upon suffering to people who are helpless and have nowhere to turn to.
Today, we woke up to news that our income will need to be stretched further when it’s already on the verge of snapping. Today, we woke up to news that we may need to eat plain porridge and cheap fried anchovies more often, because we simply cannot afford anything else anymore. Today, we woke up to news that we will be falling sick more often and even risk premature death due to heart attacks and strokes because we will be forced to have less rest and work longer hours to make more money to survive on a day-to-day basis.
It’s easy for you to say that this move is for the future benefit of the people. It’s easy for you to say that this move is for the future enhancement of living status. It’s easy for you to say that this move is for the future progress of the nation.
However, Mr. Prime Minister. However.
You speak from the point of view of someone who doesn’t need to starve just so his child could have something to eat. You speak from the point of view of someone who doesn’t need to think if he has enough money to go to work the next day, and the days after. You speak from the point of view of someone who doesn’t need to worry about paying his backdated monthly bills with money he doesn’t even have.
So don’t lecture us about how we’re being silly or petty about slight changes in price of daily needs. Don’t lecture us about how the GST is improving our economy. Don’t lecture us about how you’re trying hard to bring us to the world stage.
You’re privileged enough to be able to wear Armani coats and buy your wife Gucci handbags, and never needing to worry about what you are able to afford to have for dinner. Try being in our shoes for once, and perhaps you might see where we’re coming from. Try being human, and understand the pain you’re putting us through every day.
Sincerely,
A despondent, powerless young adult struggling to make ends meet
Comment by Aifa — November 3, 2016 @ 10:14 AM |
The red shirts are paid to protect the biggest crooks in Umno Baru because the red shirts leaders are lesser crooks themselves and many of its members are crooks in the kampung. Protecting their corrupted bosses at ” all cost” are their only and ultimate objective. Even the Sultan of Perak has advised former PM Ahmad Badawi not to watch from the sideline but to step forward as an elderly stateman to expose the crooks.
Comment by Mat Som — November 2, 2016 @ 11:43 PM |
In Korea, the people went to the streets immediately to demand resignation when it was revealed the President’s friend abused their relationship to take money. In Malaysia, the Rakyat tak peduli so crime is not only tolerated but repeated! Who is to blame?
Comment by Aifa — November 2, 2016 @ 6:12 PM |