Malaysian Spring In the Air? Options

[tangawizi]

How come there were so many muslims in the Bersih 2.0 rally anti-the government? The One Malaysia motto has become middle class. No longer just a racial motto.

The revolution now has a name: Bersih
Neil Khor
Jul 10, 11


About two weeks ago, Malaysians were still hopeful that the urbane Najib Razak would engage with the 62 NGOs under the Bersih 2.0 umbrella and demonstrate to the country that the Barisan Nasional was capable of taking the wind out of their sails through dialogue and mature discussions.

Instead, by allowing right-wing groups to scupper any possibility of an intelligent dialogue, the BN lost every advantage it had as the ruling coalition.

Perhaps the government wanted to convince Malaysians that it had to consider the opposite view. That there were groups who felt elections were “free and fair”. The reality is that these groups were not particularly successful in making their case.
They were fond of shouting, gathering in front of the offices of political organisations and threatening to burn it down. In an extreme case, these so-called anti-Bersih groups threatened ethnic explosions telling the Chinese to stay home.

Perkasa, Umno Youth, silat exponents and even one Chinese martial arts grandmaster (yes, it got that silly) – may like to think of themselves as symbols of Malay identity (somehow the grandmaster as well) – but their coming together to back the government did not seem to have done any good for the BN.

In fact, Ibrahim Ali even threatened MCA and Gerakan, reminding these senior coalition parties that they now depended on Malay votes and to shut their mouths if they wanted to survive in the next general election. All this ethnic chest-beating did not endear the BN or bolster the 1Malaysia spirit.

Bogeymen galore

Then the personal attacks started on Bersih's leaders, particular S Ambiga, the former Bar Council president and a recipient of a UN award. It began with name-calling and then death-threats.

It turned racial and when that did not work, she was branded “anti-Islam”. Apparently, even the PM participated in the name-calling, where in Kelantan he apparently labelled Ambiga “anti-Islam”. Badly advised, Ambiga was wrongly linked to the Lina Joy case. This was just too much, prompting Marina Mahathir to wade into the arena condemning those who called Ambiga names such as being “badly brought up”.

But perhaps strangest of all - please remember that these acts were supposed to strike fear into the hearts of the rakyat - Parti Sosialis Malaysia leaders (PSM is registered with the Registrar of Societies) were arrested and accused of attempting to wage war on the Agong by wearing T-shirts with the faces of Chin Peng, Rashid Mydin and others.

They are still being held under Emergency Ordinance.

And then, anyone wearing a yellow T-shirt with a Bersih logo became suspect. Unfortunately for the Seberang Jaya Municipal Council workers their uniform is yellow and their motto is 'Bersih'. But wait a minute - how can Bersih be an illegal rally if the said crime had not been committed yet? Never mind, reason left this country quite some time ago.

From the beginning, Bersih had asked all political parties to join in and support the call for “clean and fair elections” but the BN did not respond. Pakatan Rakyat was more responsive, prompting the government to label Bersih as an opposition Trojan horse.

On this front too, the BN lost the plot. Instead of engaging with Bersih on issues of evidence, the government decided to label them as part of the opposition agenda.

Absence of intelligent discourse

Then the Election Commission (EC) came into the picture, giving a press conference that really showed that they were not particularly sophisticated. By not engaging with civil society in an intelligent manner – based on evidence and sound arguments – the BN was unwittingly admitting that elections may not be clean or free.

The mainstream press went into overdrive. It brought out pro-BN pundits like Chandra Muzaffar, who immediately linked Bersih to Anwar Ibrahim and the opposition leader's insatiable lust for power and his problems.

Perhaps, Chandra may not realise this but Anwar Ibrahim is no longer the man or the force he was in 1998. With or without Pakatan support, Bersih was going forward. If he had a Facebook account, he would have known that many were already wearing the 'illegal' Bersih badge.

Not to be outdone, the inspector general of police (IGP) announced that the police suspected that Bersih was being funded by foreign elements. Bank Negara was asked to help in tracing the money trail.

Most likely, the police must have realised that even their own officers did not believe them. Hence another dinosaur was brought into the papers to say that communist elements would take advantage of Bersih. So now the government tune was that what Bersih wanted was not bad in itself but it had been taken over by the opposition and the communists.

Having lost the middle class support completely, the only thing left was to break Bersih. Even this was not done well. To Umno's surprise, the Agong waded into the picture and granted Bersih an audience.

The PM then went on national television saying that Bersih could gather at a stadium. As the walk was planned to take place in KL, naturally the stadium Bersih picks would also be in KL. The next day however, Najib back-tracked and the cabinet decided that no stadium in KL was to be used.

Rallying for kotor?

On Friday, the eve of the Bersih walk, the Selangor Sultan said that he did not support such demonstrations, quickly ending the stadium option in Selangor. So, the streets it was. By this time, Perkasa and Umno Youth also promised huge anti-Bersih rallies. The PM conveniently left the whole issue to the police. It was not a very courageous thing to do.

So, KL was literally locked-down from Friday and the TV stations focused on the hardships faced by traders because of Bersih. Here the messaging is clear: your daily bread is more important than some imagined basic rights.

But the government has forgotten that inflation is very high, the economy may have grown tremendously but there is little trickle-down effect and food prices are at an all time high. So, clean elections are important and a lot of people know this.

Yet, despite all the heavy-handedness of the police, thousands took to the streets. The mainstream press may not reflect the enormity of what just transpired and the PM may commend the police force for their loyalty but he will not be calling elections any time soon. In fact, he will now have to deal with a most unhappy country.

It is back to the drawing board for the BN. It has to figure out how it just lost the middle class?

Although one good thing did emerge: it was definitely a 'One Malaysia' movement. Young and old, of whatever ethnicities, all came out to exercise their democratic rights. The revolution sparked by Bersih will now spread throughout the country.

We just need to make sure we have a chance to make our votes count in the next general election. By this I mean “free and fair” elections.

NEIL KHOR completed his PhD at Cambridge University and now writes occasionally on matters that he thinks requires better historical treatment. He is quietly optimistic about Malaysia's future.

This post has been edited by tangawizi: Jul 10 2011, 05:54 AM

[SChong54]

Hahahaha .... I think this is a right time for Chinese and Indian to lead to make a fundamental change in Malaysia which was established in 1957 with a feuda;istic concept .. not a modern state like other countries...

Don't let Malays (UMNO and non UMNO) to lead this country because they have failed to make a fundamental change ... like or dislke .. for 54 years .. there is no major improvement in this country ... corruption, racism, feudalistic and narrow minded grew signiificantly under Malays ....

Many think that Malays are also part of the problem for Malaysia .... Without their participation ... I think we can convert Malaysia into a new Singapore and/or Hongkong .....



This post has been edited by SChong54: Jul 10 2011, 07:09 AM

[naarveen]

Many think that Malays are also part of the problem for Malaysia .... Without their participation ... I think we can convert Malaysia into a new Singapore and/or Hongkong .....

The Malays are a better people at heart compared to the Chinese and Indians.
It is unfortunate that the Malays have not taken the opportunity to create an
economy that suits the Malay. Their easy going nature needs an agricultural
and tourist based economy instead of a fast-paced cutthroat industrial one
that suits the non-Malays, namely the Chinese and the Indians. Instead of
uplifting the lot of the Malays, they are displaced by a large influx of foreign
workers from all over South-East Asia needed to realize UMNO's vision
to make Malaysia an industrialized first-world nation by 2020. UMNO blames
the British for Malay economic backwardness that has not been addressed
after more than half a century of Malay rule. Will they blame the Malays now?

This post has been edited by naarveen: Jul 10 2011, 08:49 AM

[swingdoctor]

Hahahaha .... I think this is a right time for Chinese and Indian to lead to make a fundamental change in Malaysia which was established in 1957 with a feuda;istic concept .. not a modern state like other countries...

Don't let Malays (UMNO and non UMNO) to lead this country because they have failed to make a fundamental change ... like or dislke .. for 54 years .. there is no major improvement in this country ... corruption, racism, feudalistic and narrow minded grew signiificantly under Malays ....

Many think that Malays are also part of the problem for Malaysia .... Without their participation ... I think we can convert Malaysia into a new Singapore and/or Hongkong .....

It shouldn't matter what race you are, the leaders of the country should be voted on capability rather then ethnicity. The days of racial politics are long gone, hanging on to them will entrench Malaysia in the past, rather then looking forward in the future.

Malaysians should be just Malaysians and whatever their ethnicity should only be incidental. All Malaysians should learn to live with each other peacfully and show each other the respect each person deserves irrespective of race. All Malaysians should be treated equally and should view each other equally, no one is better then anyone else.

In my opinion, the biggest thing that is holding Malaysia back is race. Each race is out to get things for themselves, Malays are more successful at it simply because there are more of them. If each race worked towards the betterment of Malaysia, Malaysia would be more successful and as a result all races would benefit. It was very heartening to see psople of all races marching sided by side for a better Malaysia.

[tangawizi]

In my opinion, race is not so much the issue as the lack of real leadership with integrity and vision, representing each of the major races in the country.

Sycophants pervade the Malaysian corridors of power.

At the street level, Malaysians appear like Filipinos. You dont know what their values are really...

[swingdoctor]

In my opinion, race is not so much the issue as the lack of real leadership with integrity and vision, representing each of the major races in the country.

Sycophants pervade the Malaysian corridors of power.

At the street level, Malaysians appear like Filipinos. You dont know what their values are really...

In Malaysia race and politics go hand in hand and many of their politicians campaign on race and are voted in based on race. But you're also right many of their politicians lack integrity and vision. Worse still is the corruption sometimes you get the feeling that the politicians in Malaysia feel it is their right to be served rather then to serve.

[HermesPrince]

In Malaysia race and politics go hand in hand and many of their politicians campaign on race and are voted in based on race. But you're also right many of their politicians lack integrity and vision. Worse still is the corruption sometimes you get the feeling that the politicians in Malaysia feel it is their right to be served rather then to serve.

But compared to neighboring countries. The corruption situation in malaysia is fewer.
Malay government can lead the country well and develop so fast.
btw, i dont like corruption and i think it is not a good thing.
as long as the people are not suffer, i think it is ok . just my opinion

[swingdoctor]

But compared to neighboring countries. The corruption situation in malaysia is fewer.
Malay government can lead the country well and develop so fast.
btw, i dont like corruption and i think it is not a good thing.
as long as the people are not suffer, i think it is ok . just my opinion

Again why do you want to keep comparing Malaysia to the worst the world has to offer, besides which neighbour are you comapring to? The best comparison Malaysia can make is to Singapore, and to be honest in terms of progress, there is no comparison. Both Singapore and Malaysia started life at the same time with the same advantages(one could argue that Malaysia was in front at the time of independence), both had similar problems. The difference is one had Mahathir and the other LKY. Which other countries do you want to comapre her to, Japan, Taiwan, Korea?

You cannot compare Malaysia to indochina becasue real freedom and proper govnt hasn't existed in none of these countries until recently, even so watch out for Vietnam. Indonesia? Indonesia got independence at the point of a gun, with no infrastructure and a very divided community. Even then watch Indonesia, she is growing. Also remember this before Malaysians get on their high horse, without the British, Australians and Gurkha's, both Malaysia and Sinagapore, would not currently exist and would be part of Indonesia. Thailand? Sure one could argue that Malaysia has done better then Thailand, but again neither started at the same place.

How do you know the people in Malaysia are not suffering, you have made a very big assumption.

[skinheadselamany...]

I currently live in Malaysia. I'm not suffering.

[swingdoctor]

I currently live in Malaysia. I'm not suffering.

And you are 1 of 20000000.

[skinheadselamany...]

And you are 1 of 20000000.

Haha... Lame...

[swingdoctor]

Haha... Lame...

No what is lame is that you think you represent the opinions of all Malaysians.

[chutzpah]

I currently live in Malaysia. I'm not suffering.

Really? It seems to me you are suffering from bodoh-ness, nurtured by your own government. And the result is a generation of incompetent lazy only waiting for hand out mentality. You are so used to be being spoon fed that you don't even know it, yes even to obtain a degree. The Chinese and Indian minorities have to study hard to get their degrees, you on the other hand is given one because of the quota your government set to ensure the number of Malays such as you have degree no matter how badly you perform academically. Does the Malay term malu means anything to you?

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[skinheadselamany...]

No what is lame is that you think you represent the opinions of all Malaysians.

Errr.... I was kinda thinking that you NOT living in Malaysia think you represent the opinions of all Malaysians is lame...

Really? It seems to me you are suffering from bodoh-ness, nurtured by your own government. And the result is a generation of incompetent lazy only waiting for hand out mentality. You are so used to be being spoon fed that you don't even know it, yes even to obtain a degree. The Chinese and Indian minorities have to study hard to get their degrees, you on the other hand is given one because of the quota your government set to ensure the number of Malays such as you have degree no matter how badly you perform academically. Does the Malay term malu means anything to you?

Haters gonna hate...



This post has been edited by skinheadselamanya: Aug 4 2011, 08:11 PM

[Esfandiari]

Hahahaha .... I think this is a right time for Chinese and Indian to lead to make a fundamental change in Malaysia which was established in 1957 with a feuda;istic concept .. not a modern state like other countries...

Don't let Malays (UMNO and non UMNO) to lead this country because they have failed to make a fundamental change ... like or dislke .. for 54 years .. there is no major improvement in this country ... corruption, racism, feudalistic and narrow minded grew signiificantly under Malays ....

Many think that Malays are also part of the problem for Malaysia .... Without their participation ... I think we can convert Malaysia into a new Singapore and/or Hongkong .....

Nothing new revealed in your post! Malays have always known that there are Chinese (not all) are always scheming to take over this country from Malays and make it another Chinese-dominated country like Singapore, perhaps even merging with Singapore to create a big Chinese state outside the Chinese world (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao). Chinese with your attitude are not welcome in any SE Asian country, not just Malaysia, no wonder you are considered 'pendatang'. Pack up and leave if you are still in Malaysia. Malaysia will always be Malaysia, not Chineseia.