OUTSPOKEN: Recently I’ve often challenged people to complete the sentence and continue to lay out their reasons. It’s only fair that I do so myself. So, here goes.
First, Bersih 4 is a way to say publicly that we are fed up with our elected officials and our public officials.
We’re fed up with our government leaders, police chief, the Election Commission, judges, prosecutors and many more.
Their decisions, statements and actions are dividing our nation.
They threaten us. They fix elections. They interfere with religion. They say corruption is donation. They look away when leaders do wrong.
They punish people who ask questions about 1MDB. They punish people who ask questions about the 2.6 billion ringgit ‘donation’. They punish people who ask questions about excessive spending to win votes in the last elections. They say black is white.
Bersih 4 will show all our officials how disgusted we are with them.
Second, Bersih 4 is a way to express our anger over the fact that so many people who should be prosecuted are not prosecuted.
- People can threaten to burn Bibles and not be prosecuted.
- Men can threaten to slap, rape or otherwise harm others, and not be prosecuted.
- People can regularly die in police custody, without anyone being prosecuted.
- Teachers can hurt students and not be prosecuted.
Bersih 4 will show how disgusted we are about the freedom so many have to do so much wrong.
Third, Bersih 4 is a way to show all politicians our support for the reforms called for by Bersih.
We want clean elections. The Election Commission must be stopped from fixing the elections so that the ruling coalition will always win a majority of seats in Parliament.
We want clean government. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must be enabled to prosecute even the prime minister or the IGP.
We want freedom to express dissent. There must be an independent Police Commission such as the proposed IPCMC to investigate misconduct and complaints and there must be no restrictions on the Internet.
We want parliamentary democracy. MPs must do real work and not just rubber stamp and approve whatever the Cabinet proposes. Both government back-benchers and opposition MPs must hold the Cabinet accountable. Laws must be carefully reviewed before being passed. Opposition MPs must have a say in the agenda of Parliament. The prime minister must answer questions!
We want the economy to be saved. The prime minister cannot be the finance minister and thereby be enabled to create problems like the Port Klang Free Trade Zone under Mahathir and 1MDB under Najib. Foreign labour must be reduced. Workers must have the right to form unions. Minimum wages must be implemented.
Fourth, Bersih 4 is our chance to issue a vote of no confidence in our prime minister and our public institutions. Bersih 4 is our chance to encourage everyone who wants to reform our nation before it’s too late. Bersih 4 is our chance to meet, greet and join hands with many others who want to be good citizens. Bersih 4 is our duty.
Fifth, some people say they will not join Bersih 4 because rallies are not effective, because rallies are not safe, because the organisers have no plan of action, and so on.
I wonder how they would answer these questions concerning the Hindraf rally in 2007:
- Would Thaipusam be a holiday if not for the Hindraf rally?
- Would Tamil schools have received money from the government and improved so much if not for the Hindraf rally?
- Would there be so many Indian ministers in the cabinet if not for the Hindraf rally?
- Would so many parties have put up so many Indian candidates if not for the Hindraf rally?
What did naysayers say before and soon after the Hindraf rally?
I also have some questions for the naysayers concerning earlier Bersih rallies.
- Would there have been so much less cheating in the 12th and 13th general elections if not for the earlier Bersih rallies?
- Would there be so many stories of Chinese, Malays and Indians helping each other if not for the earlier Bersih rallies?
- Would the EC be as cautious as it is now if not for the earlier Bersih rallies?
The naysayers can talk, write and whine. As for me, and my household, we will not miss the chance to give the most powerful feedback possible to our elected and appointed officials.
The people have already spoken. The sales of Bersih 4 tee-shirts have been enormous. Attendance at Bersih 4 briefing meetings have been enormous. Donations to Bersih 2.0, the organisers of Bersih 4, have been enormous.
We have a chance to shape Malaysia’s history by simply showing up. Jom Bersih!
An engineer by training, Rama Ramanathan was Quality Leader (Asia Pacific) in two US-based multinationals over the last two decades. Tired of travel, he now mostly stays put in KL and focuses on being a thoughtful neighbour and citizen. -Theantdaily.
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