I am tempted to comment on the much discussed forthcoming Bersih Rally.
I am looking at the proposed event from my own perspective of someone once involved in the internal security of the country.
The Bersih rally will have a significant impact on the nation 's history .It will be a turning point for the nation in its manifestation of democratic tolerance . It will also be the best judge of the country's performance in the upkeep of law and order .
But the big question in most of our minds is :which way will the Bersih Rally go ? What of the event itself and the aftermath ? .Will the event itself be peaceful and orderly or will it be riotous and bloody ?The opposing parties i.e the government and the police on one side and the NGOs and the opposition parties on the other have their own views on the event.Speculations on what the 9th of July will bring about have been rife, to say the least .
Some say that it could the like of May 13, an event of chaos and bloody riots .This is an unfair and unscrupulous comparison .May 13 took place immediately after a general election that saw the drastic and violent change in the political equation of the country .It was the beginning a downfall of Malay political power and the rise of Chinese economic arrogance and suppression. .The Malay's fear of economic suppression were deep seated because they were then living in neglect and poverty. Malay frustration at the failure of the governments to improve their economic opportunities became a key force in their mounting anger during the riots .
The scenario is now different. Malaysians are now living as one community compared to pre May 13 era when people were living in segregated communities .There is less economic segregation and wider inter racial understanding is more perceptible. Given the time and the political will inter racial understanding in Malaysia will be its best asset not its liability .
Some speculate that the Rally will be a peaceful gathering of the civil society with the police playing their part in making sure that things are in good order in the spirit of true democracy. .Why not ? With so many brickbats already thrown at the Government on the way it is handling the proposed rally it is best it that it capitalises on the adage that it stoops to conquer .The conquerors are the people and the present day government will be seen as sharing the same desire for a fair and free election.
One blogger even suggested that on that day, it will not be a bad idea for Najib to be standing at the gates of the palace to receive the memorandum from the rally .If that happens can one imagine the world reaction would be .The adulation and the admiration of the way the rally is being handled will be self gratifying for Najib and the people of Malaysia .
One speculation which is more direct and specific was that the rally will be a non event .It will be attended by 3000 to 5000 people . Perkasa and the Umno youth will not be there because they will not be able to gather sizable numbers to be a credible force .This scenario seems unlikely because too much water had flown under the bridge .The size of the crowd is any one's guess. It will be hard to predict . The police are already arresting the divisional leaders of Bersih thus depriving the followers of orders and directions. Some people are already intimidated and may not want to take on the perilous road.
Road blocks are being set up all over the entry points to the nation's capital and hence it will be difficult for people to gather . After all that is the objective of the government . People cannot gather .Why ? because it is an illegal gathering .Why is it an a illegal gathering ? .Because it has no police permit .
That is the the nutshell. If that is all there is to it ,then give it a police permit . The gathering then becomes legal .The fears of security and public order is another issue that have to be dealt separately .
Let us have confidence in our police and surely they can handle the situation given their experience in handling the fight against the CPM for 40 long years.The problems then were bigger .
There is still time left. Bersih leaders and the government must sit down and talk over the question of fair and free election round the conference table .It is foolish to look at this problem entirely as a security issue and leave the problems to the police .Let us get all that matters involved . The media ,the academia ,the corporate leaders ,the army ,the civil society ,the professionals . the religious leaders and not the least the political parties and the ECmust be there as the true loving people of Malaysia
Bersih can postpone the proposed march if they see that the government are serious about meeting their demands for free and fair election .
After all that is the essence of democracy
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