How could I not follow Bersih 3.0 when
my guys and gals from MobTV.My have so bravely gone to get live coverage for
the people of Malaysia? It is after all a group of NGOs – all non-partisan –
trying to exercise their right of free speech and freedom of assembly as
enshrined in the constitution. Dato’ Ambiga, the co-Chairperson of Bersih and
the steering committee, promised a peaceful rally.
Rapera is all for peaceful
expressions of views or even dissent by thinking and responsible citizens.
However, Rapera is unambiguously against violence among its citizens.
Around about 1pm, when I had to go
off from the Bersih event, I was happy to note that the event was peaceful and
almost carnival like. I was pleased, at that moment that my worst fears of
confrontation had been proven wrong. I was confident that the Bersih crowd will
not go beyond the barricades that was erected around Dataran Merdeka (DM).
However, as events unfolded
subsequently, my fears were unfortunately proven correct – political parties
and several irresponsible quarters hijacked the Bersih event and turned it into
of Malaysia’s most violent and shameful exercise of freedom of assembly. This is why I had always held that it is not
politicians that can save the Nation but savior citizens or Raperas.
You can just youtube to see the
shameful behaviours by some of our citizens, whom, I would say should be
prosecuted under the law for their irresponsible and violent behaviours. At the
same time, the behaviours of any police officers who had been over zealous in exercising
their power should also be investigated. If this does not happen, there will be
these accusations: Firstly, that politicians are exempted from the law.
Secondly, that there are agent provocateurs arranged by Barisan Nasional and
hence they are not prosecuted. Thirdly, that there is selective cover-up.
Many I met seem to believe that PKR
has simply hijacked the event in the most irresponsible way and are contributory
to the violence and rioting that ensued. This has to be verified by PKR itself.
Many people I
know already perceive PKR as a party that would do anything to wrestle
political power.
Politicians and political parties should have just
stayed out and let it be an NGO event.
In retrospect I wonder if all these
unwanted events would have occurred if the Datuk Bandar had simply not interfered
with Bersih’s intention to sit-in at the Dataran. I had voiced the view before that
Bersih 3.0 is unstoppable and so the most logical thing for the authorities to
do would be to simply provide police protection for the sit-in and for them to
facilitate the event. The moment I heard that DBKL took the position that DM was off limits for Bersih 3.0, I was concerned that this may be a catalyst for disaster. In fact, I was of
the view that even the “occupydataran” by the students should have police or
DBKL protection instead of the opposition they had experienced. These are after
all college kids learning to exercise their right of expression, even though
they may not be correct on the issue.
Such “training” if properly “guided” may make them mature Raperas in the
future. However, old methods of
exercising authority seem to die hard. My views too seem to have fallen on deaf
ears or “dinosaurous” ears!
On another perspective, one must
also ask why was there such a huge turnout? How and why did so many people turn
up for the event? On one hand, it is heart warming to note that more and more
Rakyats are beginning to learn that they cannot depend on ANY politician but on
themselves.
Hence, if I am the ruling party, I
would not be automatically defensive. I will embrace the Rakyat’s interest in
the well being of their Nation. On the other hand, if I am the Opposition, I
will not automatically gloat and think that I have the support of the people. I
will be wary of the way I serve in politics. This and other such events could
very well be a sign that the Rakyat seriously do not trust politicians anymore,
which is a good thing. This is, in my view, taking back control of the destiny
of our home, our Nation.
Freedom of expression and assembly
aside, the sanctity of the law must also be protected. There is simply no
excuse for any irresponsible persons to destroy or to cause to destroy or
incite anyone to destroy public property which, we must remember, belongs to
the Rakyat. I believe that the genuine Bersih folks are peaceful. Hence, the
urgency of prosecuting the culprits who have marred the exercise of a
fundamental constitutional right.
May peace always prevail among us.
NEXT: Bersih
3.0 and A Cleric (God Willing)
How naive one can be to assume that BERSIH 3.0 will not be hijacked by the opposition?
ReplyDeleteThere was BERSIH 1.0 in 2007 and it was hijacked by the Opposition (in fact BERSIH 1.0 was credited for the the success of the opposition during PRU12), then there was BERSIH 2.0 and it also profited by the opposition. So was there any reason to belief that none of the opposition leaders would grab the golden opportunity to use BERSIH 3.0 as his/her platform to power?
Fighting corruption in a corrupt way, that would never work. Sort of the same with in Tunisia during the start of Arab Spring, people committing suicide (self immolation) as a 'jihad'. That's the most blasphemous thing I've ever heard (even though it does work).
It is true though that there's many amongst BERSIH attendees who only wishes to exercise their right to express their opinion. Some who were born, raise or live in KL should have no wishes to see violence at their own backyard. But knowing full well that the opposition had taken steps to 'import' outsiders to join in, the KLites ought to know that outsiders has no reservation of 'buat perangai' in places far from their own home and family. Should BERSIH 3.0 took place in Kelantan, Kedah or Penang, I'm sure none of this youngsters would behave the same as in KL.
Luckily, I don't think there's BERSIH 4.0 because PRU13 is next around the corner. But that doesn't means that there won't be future gatherings or violence. Whoever behind these event now know that even Malaysians - despite the absence of reason whatsoever to riot - can be dupe into destroying themselves.
So assuming that these thing will happens anyway, lets brace ourself and our love ones for impact.. because it will be bad one.