Ordinary Malaysians gathered for the 34hour Bersih rally in the heart of Kuala Lumpur on the 29th August 2015 starting from 2pm and ending at midnight on 30th August 2015.
The Bersih demands were for :free and fair elections, a transparent government, the right to demonstrate, strengthening the parliamentary democracy system and saving the national economy.
The Bersih 4 rally has proven to be peaceful in spite of all fear mongering of the Barisan National Authorities.
The last minute directive from the Home Minister banning the usage of yellow shorts or anything yellow in the pretext that it would cause harm to national security, and the multi media interception by clamping down on Bersih website did not deter thousands of Malaysian from turning up for rally. The fact is, ordinary Malaysians have eschewed this type of authoritarian measures that do not serve the common good.
It is obvious that threats and intimidation does not work anymore for Malaysians who have the determination and resolve for change. The tide of people power cannot be curtailed by authoritarian regimes.
To be fair the police should be also be congratulated for not attempting to disperse the crowd using instruments such water cannons has it was in the past.
There has been a tendency among certain commentators to picture the bersih rally as being hijacked by DAP, due to the strong Chinese presense, but the fact is the rally was organized by an independent NGO headed by Marina Chin.
The rally the way conducted by Bersih is a normal thing in many western democratic countries. This process should not be banned but allowed to proceed as the protesters have made a point which the Government in power should not shut them out.
The presence of the Dr. Mahathir our former Prime Minister has further strengthen the Bersih demands.
In the coming sitting of Parliament which begins on 19th October we will raise the issues of the Bersih demands. We hope Barisan MPs will see the positive aspects of the Bersih demands and urge them to support us.
I urge the Government to set up a high level committee to discuss the Bersih demands and to eventually see the birth of a “win win formula” for all peace loving Malaysians.
The Prime Minister cannot avoid the Bersih demands although he is trying to do so. It vital to stop addressing issues purely from ethnic angle, and dissect issues from Malaysian perspective.