There has been much talk in cyberspace of BERSIH 3.0 drawing the crowd to the sit-in on April 28. There were mixed reviews to National Laureate Samad Said's optimism that about 500,000 people could attend.
Some say it is possible, and some say Malaysians being 'kiasu' or 'scaredy-cat' in nature will avoid it like the plague. They knows BERSIH 3.0 needs to be held and the importance of electoral reforms. But as always, they also want their 'dirty' job to be done by others although they all yearn for a new era of transparency, change and plain old honesty.
Overdrive to keep the people away: 500,000 is 'sap-sap suey'
The authorities have of course gone on overdrive to discourage the people from attending. The mainstream media is churning out nonsense each day and it is a real wonder people still bother to buy the newspapers at all.
From stories of monster traffic jams to being inconsiderate to small stallholders to being an outright public danger, each day Prime Minister Najib Razak makes sure he does his best to dampen public interest in the BERSIH 3.0 'Duduk dan Bantah' rally.
Yet, when one compares the numbers that thronged the Batu Caves temple at the recent Thaipusam celebration or the capacity crowds at the Bukit Jalil football stadium, there is no basis to Najib's arguments at all.
850,000 people thronged the Batu Caves temple grounds on Thaipusam Day recently without any major casualties. No one was unhappy. In particular, the small stallholders were exuberant because they probably made enough that day to last the whole month.
As for the huge soccer crowds supporting their favorite EPL team in the friendlies at the 80,000-capacity Bukit Jalil stadium, they were all having a good time as well even though there wasn't standing room left.
The fact is, if you don't restrict, threaten or frighten the people, surely everyone want would want to participate in the sit-in. Getting a crowd size of 500,000 is 'sap-sap suey' (easy as can be).
'Happening' Bersih
BERSIH 2.0 is proof of it. Prime Minister Najib Razak ordered a complete lock down of Kuala Lumpur. The authorities - from the Home Minister to the police to the mainstream media - did everything within their means to stop the rally. Almost the entire police force were there to intimidate the people, but BERSIH 2.0 still happened and with a capital H. It was great and the people won hands down.
If the Government is sincere and allows BERSIH 3.0 to go on freely and naturally, surely we will see a crowd of at least 500,000 on April 28 and it will be a fun-filled day for all.
I doubt the Government has the gumption or backbone to allow this rally to take place without throwing at the very least some major obstacles including petty tantrums at the organizers as well as restricting the people on that day. For sure, they will try and give as much trouble as possible to thwart a huge turnout.
Let's watch and see what they will do. Malaysians must keep each in the loop of all the possible 'dirty' tricks the BN will pull to thwart the people's will on that day.
Don't let them gerrymander and pillage our wealth again
I've attended BERSIH 1.0, BERSIH 2.0 and now nothing will stop me from going to BERSIH 3.0. I'm sure all those who participated B1 and B2 will be there again with me in B3.
My simple plea is to those who have never attended a Bersih rally, please make it a point to be in this sit in on April 28 for the sake of our beloved Malaysia and the future of your own family in this country.
Barisan National has bankrupted the country after the past 55 years. It is now using the Election Commission to hang on to power corruptly. The electoral reforms suggested by B2 will be waylaid and indeed have already been waylaid.
So don't let BN find new means to gerrymander and pillage our wealth when the 13th general election comes along. Everyone knows this will be the dirtiest Election Ever!
A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people - John F Kennedy
Malaysia Chronicle
2 comments:
yes...all you baboons are free to yell at the top of your lungs and NOBODY CARES!! haha
Dr.Jeffry Kitingan is a Christian Kadazan from Sabah. But is he in favor of Bersih 3.0 or not? He is either pro-Bersih 3.0 or anti-Bersih 3.0. If you are pro-Bersih 3.0, then you are not anti-Bersih 3.0. If you are anti-Bersih 3.0, then you are not pro-Bersih 3.0. I do have a lot of respect for Dr.Jeffry Kitingan, but on this important moment in history, he and other Sabahans and Sarawakians must make a clear unambiguous public stand. I think the Malaysian citizens need to know.
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The UMNO government agreed to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the large presence of illegal foreigners in Sabah and the widespread issuance of Malaysian Mykads and identification documents. But UMNO has yet to do something concrete. UMNO has to do something concrete before the General Elections(GE13). Starting the RCI work after the GE13 is a joke.
The Hindu Malaysians have the same problem. There is a UMNO minister who asked the Hindu Malaysians to have "nambikei" in UMNO. The word "nambikei" means "faith" in Tamil language. The reality is that due cronyism and favoritism, most Hindu Malaysians were sidelined. Now an UMNO Minister is asking Hindu Malaysians to put faith in him. It means that if the Hindu Malaysians vote for UMNO in GE13, then UMNO will respond by helping to uplift the Hindu Malaysians out of poverty. But faith can be given to the Almighty, not human beings because human beings do err all the time. It is dangerous to put faith in human beings because they may betray you too. What Hindu Malaysians need is equal rights and meritocracy.
At some point in time Sabahans must draw the line somewhere. Waiting for GE13 to be over before the RCI can do what they should do may not be a good idea. Any way, its up to Sabahans to decide. Should the RCI do its work before GE13 or after GE13 is the burning question. If the Sabahans continue to tolerate and have faith in UMNO, then it is their own problem. It is for Sabahans to wise up. It is for Sabahans to realize that they have been shortchanged. It is for Sabahans to decide their own future. Sabahans cannot and should not wait and wait for the RCI to do its work. I say that the RCI should do its work before GE13; and this should be the ultimatum. I say that RCI should complete its work before GE13; and this should be the ultimatum. I say that RCI starting its work before GE13 is insufficient. Starting its work and completing its work are not the same. Starting is only starting. Starting and completing are different. Sabahans have waited too long for RCI. There should be no more delays. The RCI must complete and finish its work before GE13. RCI must complete and finish its work to the satisfaction of the Sabahans before the GE13. It is important that the Sabahans be satisfied with findings of the RCI before the GE13 is held. This should be the ultimatum.
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The political history of Malaysia can be divided into two chapters: that is, chapter one and chapter two. Chapter One is about UMNO rule with a 2/3 majority in Parliament. Chapter Two is about UMNO rule without a 2/3 majority in Parliament. We are now in Chapter Two. The beginning of Chapter Two is the end of Chapter One. Similarly, the end of Chapter One is the beginning of Chapter Two.
Chapter One had its social, political, and economic implications for the nation. Chapter Two has just begun and its social, political, and economic changes are something we have to wait and see.
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