The Najib government’s gross mishandling of Bersih 3.0 of April 28 is
proving to be even more disastrous than its initial mishandling of
Bersih 2.0 of July 9, 2011.
At least, the Najib administration realized in the nick of time and
reined in its excessive over-reactions to the Bersih 2.0, performing a
volte face two months later by announcing on Malaysia Day on Sept. 16 a
slew of repeal or reform of draconian laws like the abolition of
Internal Security Act to make Malaysia “the best democracy in the
world”.
Ever since, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken pains to
emphasise that no one else but the Barisan Nasional should take credit
for the slew of reform of draconian laws, like the revocation of the
four Emergency Proclamations, the repeal of the Internal Security Act,
amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act and enactment of
the Peaceful Assembly Act because the Barisan Nasional government is
prepared to “listen to Malaysians who want change”.
I concede that Najib and the Barisan Nasional Government had attempted
to listen to Malaysians who wanted change as represented by the Bersih
2.0 rally which saw 50,000 Malaysians peacefully gathering in Kuala
Lumpur for free, fair and clean elections.
But the government had not listened fully or attentively, which is why
four or even five times the number of people who turned out on Bersih
2.0 - some 250,000 Malaysians - gathered peacefully in Kuala Lumpur on
April 28 in response to Bersih 3.0 call for free, fair and clean
elections.
The Najib government at least made an effort to the listen to the
people’s demands in Bersih 2.0 although the efforts at reform proved to
be half-hearted, half-baked and generally unsatisfactory like the
recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral
reforms.
No longer bothering to listen to the people
But what has distinguished the Najib administration’s reaction to Bersih
3.0 as compared to Bersih 2.0 is its complete inability and refusal to
“listen to the people’s demands for change”.
Instead, the Najib administration launched a concerted and systematic
campaign of vilification and demonization against Bersih 3.0 illustrated
by:
(i) the wild and irresponsible allegation by the Prime
Minister that Bersih 3.0 was an anti-national conspiracy to topple the
government;
(ii) the instant, blind and unthinking support given to
this conspiracy theory by the former Inspector-General of Police Tun
Hanif Omar;
(iii) establishment of an “independent advisory panel”
headed by Tun Hanif to conduct an inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 violence
although it does not enjoy support, trust and confidence of the
Malaysian public, totally lacking in credibility and legitimacy; and
(iv) a most biased, one-sided and tendentious 30-minute documentary entitled “Bersih 3.0 itu Kotor”broadcast
on TV1 to poison the minds of viewers on Bersih 3.0 and proof that the
government is not prepared to keep an open mind to allow for an
objective and impartial inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 violence and
brutality.
Four recent events have banished beyond a shadow of doubt hopes that
the Najib administration would be prepared to be open-minded and listen
to Malaysians in Bersih 3.0 as had happened after Bersih 2.0, namely:
(i) The ridiculous claim by the Minister for
Information, Communications and Culture, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim that
there were only 22,270 people who joined the Bersih 3.0 rally on April
28, and not hundreds of thousands of people;
(ii) The incessant harassment of Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson
Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan, violating her privacy, human and citizenship
rights;
(iii) The prosecution of Parliamentary Opposition Leader,
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR leaders Azmin Ali and Badrul Hashim for
offences under the Peaceful Assembly Act in connection with Bersih 3.0;
and
(iv) The “last straw” – the government suing Ambiga and the
Bersih 2.0 steering committee for alleged damages amounting to
RM122,000 on Bersih 3.0.
The message that Najib is sending loud and clear is that he has
exchanged the robes of “the Great Transformer” for those of “the Great
Reactionary” as he is no more prepared to listen to the real voices and
legitimate aspirations of Malaysians for change!
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