Sitting out the Bersih 3.0 sit-in

After Bersih 2.0 I told my friend who was helping me to carry my backpack as I limped back to the LRT station, that I hope there will not be a need for Bersih 3.0. Though it was a great experience marching through the streets with fellow Malaysians, singing our national anthem with all our hearts and of course tasting the sting of tear gas, it was physically exhausting and my two legs gave up. I needed someone to drive me home in my own car.

So when Bersih 3.0 was announced, I was not keen participate and unlike the previous one there was no crackdown by the authorities prior to the rally. So it didn’t piss me off like before. From reading what others say in their fbs and twitters, it seems everyone is going to be there. 100k should not be a problem if the LRT and komuter is not shut down. I also felt that I have made my point after going for Bersih 2007 and Bersih 2.0.

Furthermore, I found out the two persons who went with me the last time will be also out of town on the 28^th. I didn’t know anyone I know from my area who will be going. However, a few days before the event, as people were scrambling to buy Bersih T-shirts I was given a free one. Not only that, later on I was even given an Anti- Lynas t-shirt. So I thought maybe I should go after all. The day before, I half heartedly made plans with a colleague of mine who had an appointment for medical checkup within the vicinity of KLCC. I offered that if he can fetch me, I can get my wife’s monthly pass in KLCC car park. After his medical checkup, we can join the Anti-Lynas group and march to Dataran. I was naïve enough to believe the police that they will be not closing any roads except those in Dataran Merdeka. In fact, they said they have no problem with people assembling at the gathering points but just that they cannot march.

 I didn’t have plan B. My back pack was ready with extra t-shirts, towels, water bottle and of course one container of salt. Woke up at 4am and found out that all roads leading to KLCC were closed. SMS my colleague to say that we can’t get into KLCC by car and so our plan was off. I decided then to stay at home and watch the event unfolds through fbs and twitters. I became restless as I began to read how festive the atmosphere was becoming. But it was too late as by then I had difficulty in getting to the LRT station.

As predicted, the crowd was huge and I was disappointed for not going down to join in the festivities. On the other hand, I dislike being in crowded areas. I think I wouldn’t have survived long in there. One friend told me he nearly fainted because of the heat. I thought it was going to end peacefully this time and Ambiga was wise to call for dispersal much earlier than the scheduled time. But lo and behold as she was making the announcement, the barricades were breached incurring the wrath of the police. The rest is history.

Besides the breach I think what incensed the police was the rumour flying around that one policeman was killed by the protesters. The police virtually ran amok. Instead of defending their perimeter, they went on the offensive like a hunter. Like pack of wolves hunting down any stray protester. Tear gas was fire with impunity right into areas jam packed with people. Some were fired at eye level. It’s a miracle that there were no fatalities. Those arrested were beaten up and denied access to lawyers.

So what difference has the Peaceful Assembly Act brought about? Might as well throw it into the dustbin. The police only know how to behave when not provoked. At least an improvement over Bersih 2.0 where they acted without any provocation. But all hell broke loose when they were provoked. There were accounts from the people who were beaten that those police officers who beat them wore not name tags or police no. So one can only guess that the brutality was premeditated.

The rally may be a success by Bersih’s account in terms of the turnout. But will this translate into the much reforms we need? I doubt so. Why would the ruling party reform the electoral system if they know they will lose if all those reforms are carried out. The PSC after Bersih was nothing but a PR exercise. The amendments to the Election Offences Act were passed in Parliament at an ungodly hour. It has made fraud and dirty politics (one of Bersih demands that should be eliminated) even easier. The only demand by Bersih agreed to by the PSC, the use of indelible ink is now rendered almost useless with these amendments.

It’s my opinion that thus far Bersih is ineffective in pushing for electoral reforms. The more they pushed, the more the other party thinks of way to cheat. But Bersih has awakened Malaysians from their political apathy and unite them across races, religions, socio-economic status and even national boundaries (and from the height of mountain top to the depth of the sea). It has caused people to stand up for their rights as enshrined in our Constitution. It’s becoming a people movement that no government can stop.

The blame game has started. The govt is still in denial. They are beyond redemption. Any reforms will have to await the formation of a new govt. And for that to happen without electoral reforms, we need a miracle and divine intervention. So let us pray.