Despite the lockdown of the city since 8th July 2011, the turnout for Bersih 2.0 rally was incredible. From my estimation, more than 100,000 of Malaysians attended the rally to request for fair and clean elections.
I started the march at Pudu Plaza whereby all of the marchers were worried if there were enough people gathering there. I could only see not more than 200 people at 1pm sharp, when we assembled in front of Pudu Plaza to start our march. As I had to lead the security team to make sure that our leaders and supporters were safe throughout the whole rally, I started to march along. More people joined our march as we passed by. It was very encouraging! From my estimation, we had more than 4000 people when we reached Puduraya. The marchers were all well disciplined. None of us created any havoc. This was proven when a few marchers followed the security team’s instruction to walk when they were found trying to cross Jalan Imbi by climbing the dividers. They were more obedient than schoolchildren. We were marching peacefully until Puduraya and all of us were in high spirits when we saw thousands of people gathered at Dataran Maybank.
Minutes upon reaching, the nightmare began. The police started using water cannon and tear gas on us without any warning. They hit their own citizens and arrested them. More than 1600 peoples taken into custody on that day.
While marchers sought refuge at Tung Shin Hospital, police attacked the hospital by firing water cannon and tear gas at it. It was unbelievable! How can the police attack the hospital? Police even rushed into the hospital to apprehend people. What country is this? Some was arrested and many ran away by climbing the fence at the back of the hospital. At last, the crowd completely dispersed by 5pm.
Bersih 2.0 witnessed the police brutality. It also witnessed the foolish way our ministers handle the situations before and after the rally. Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai visited Tung Shin Hospital on 11th July 2011, one day after YAB Lim Guan Eng. It is unimaginable that he actually announced that no tear gas and water were shot into Tung Shin Hospital. The incident was probably caused by the wind. What a gusty wind indeed. So strong that even the canisters were blown into the hospital. What happened? Thousands were there when police launched the attack. Liow is a liar! Who pressured you to lie? I hope that he will not have guilty conscience for doing so. Perhaps he is too loyal to his master.
Despite numerous photos and video clips uploaded onto Facebook and Youtube, MCA President, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, even added that it is a matter of ‘perception’. Nothing can be proven through the video clips and photos because of different perceptions. Mr Chua, which perception you are talking about? Bersih 2.0 is all about clean and fair elections. So, please do not mix it up with shooting blue films.
Home Minister, Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin Bin Tun Hussein, even challenged the media by saying police have own videos recorded for the rally which can prove that they treated the marchers very well and politely. No brutality. He even threatened the media that legal action is to be taken if his statement of no police brutality proven true after the release of the police’s videos. Hence, why don’t they release it immediately? Need time to edit?
Bersih 2.0 was a success although people only managed to gather at Dataran Maybank and its surroundings. It had once again proven that the police had failed in their attempt to silent the public. With roadblocks denying people from entering the city of Kuala Lumpur, we still manage to assemble for the rally. Many were wondering how people get into the city. Wondering whether they used Scorpene, the submarine, which cannot sink or Northrop F-5E jet, which cannot fly without its engine?
On realising that they had failed to stop the rally, the police started firing water cannons and tear gas not only at the crowd but at Tung Shin Hospital too. They were beating marchers with their batons and arresting them unlawfully. Furthermore, it is very hard to accept that we have an Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the intelligence to announce that the total numbers who attended the rally were only 6000 people. Did his teacher teach him 1 + 1 = 0? No wonder crime rates in the country are ever escalating.
Why can’t the police just protect and ensure that the crowd marches to Merdeka Stadium peacefully and safely? I believe the higher authority instructed all these. Why were they so afraid of us assembling and handing the memorandum to the King? Were they worried that the memorandum might expose any of their wrongdoings to His Majesty, which has been an open secret anyway?
Please do not pull wool over our eyes. Bersih 2.0 is a success whether or not the crowd managed to march to the stadium or handover the memorandum. For me, it is all about public awareness. The rally has successfully sent a strong message to the King, Barisan Nasional, Prime Minister, the ministers and all Malaysians that the election system in Malaysia is unclean and unfair. Since our Prime Minister claims otherwise, please prove it. Please explain why are there more than one hundred voters being registered in a single residence? Yes, Pakatan Rakyat won five states in the 12th General Election! This is because the people have woken up. The people’s power had sunk the phantom votes! If the elections were clean and fair, Malaysian history would have recorded a change in ruling party during the 12th General Election.
The Barisan Nasional government has gone beyond hope. The ludicrous arrest of people wearing yellow as well as the arrest of Dr Jeyakumar and five other members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia under Emergency Ordinance days before the rally have proven that they have lost. This reminds me of a quote by the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus. ‘Those whom god wishes to destroy, he first makes them mad.’ Barisan Nasional is reaching their end.
The 1 Malaysia slogan remains merely a slogan. Malaysians have proven that we are already a nation regardless of race and religion. Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races were helping each other during the march and that is the day I feel proud to be a Malaysian. I experienced the true Malaysian’s Malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment