By The Malaysian Insider
July 07, 2011
JULY 7 — Events over the past week have brought to question whether Malaysians can trust the Barisan Nasional (BN) government? And if not, can Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has made great strides to reclaim the coalition’s popularity, regain the people’s trust?
Let’s look at some of the events this week that has likely undermined not only his support but also his 1 Malaysia. People First. Performance Now.
Najib’s offer of a stadium for rally instead of electoral reforms movement Bersih marching through town pressing for free and fair elections.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin had interceded and got Bersih to agree to the prime minister’s suggestion which was carried by the media, including the Umno-linked pro-government TV3 television station.
What has happened since then? The prime minister has passed the entire matter to the police, saying they have a final say whether the rally can be held in a stadium. Meanwhile, the Cabinet met yesterday and decided that Bersih cannot use any stadium in Kuala Lumpur because it is an outlawed organisation and might cause a nuisance.
Add to that is the police applying and getting an order to restrict 91 individuals, including Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, from entering Kuala Lumpur this Saturday.
Are any of these actions done in good faith? Can we trust the word of a government especially when it comes out of the mouth of the prime minister? Or has he been economical with the truth and never wanted to find a solution to Bersih’s demands.
And what about his endorsement of a silat group as the country’s third line of defence just days after the group threatened to go to war against those who rally on July 9? While Najib has every right to praise anyone he desires, it leaves much to be desired that he is endorsing a group that is prepared to go to war inside the country.
“I believe if there are evil enemies who want to attack the country from without and within, ‘anak-anak lincah’ will rise to fight them,” said Najib in a fiery speech last night.
“But tonight, we do not gather to fight,” added the prime minister, saying “We do not gather to wield the keris (dagger). We gather for the loyalty and unity of our country,” and “We do not fight the non-Malays. We embrace them as fellow citizens.”
Yes, the prime minister is right. We are all Malaysians but to endorse a group that is prepared to wage war against fellow citizens over philosophical differences is definitely not what Malaysians should expect from a national leader.
Can Malaysians trust Putrajaya and its current occupants? It is a question that can only be answered in the next general elections. Just like the success of Bersih will be reflected when everyone agrees that the next general elections is free and fair.
#1 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Thursday, 7 July 2011 - 11:05 pm
Putrajaya is a city. Putrajaya is inanimate,
BN is an institution peopled by UMNO, MCA, MIC and other bits and pieces, the flotsam and jetsam of malaysian p[olitics.
BN cannot be trusted.
BN’s leaders cannot be trusted.
BN’s outsourced ‘agencies’ like Perkasa cannot be trusted.
Everything about BN- lock, stock and barrel; hook, line and sinker – cannot be trusted
BN should be allowed to perish in hell.
#2 by dagen on Thursday, 7 July 2011 - 11:06 pm
The one and only true people’s opposition party – umno!
The one and only party that opposes and fights and denies and oppresses people’s lawful rights and rightful expectations in all ways possible, not necessary ethical or legal ways.
#3 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Thursday, 7 July 2011 - 11:33 pm
Ambiga, PDRM and IGP think they are smart.
Suggest BERSIH committee now re-set the Bersih march for July 16. The message will go out on internet very quickly. PDRM cannot shut down the nation’s capital every weekend! That is madness….I mean they are already rasputin-mad.
#4 by pulau_sibu on Thursday, 7 July 2011 - 11:33 pm
remember about Ben Ali, Mubarak,… and their downfalls. najib is just following the same track
#5 by vsp on Thursday, 7 July 2011 - 11:55 pm
UMNO was the first group to advocate and use demonstrations as a means to obtain their objectives. If demonstrations were good for them to overturn the Malayan Union, surely peaceful demonstrations must be good for the people of Malaysia to ask for a fair and clean election. Yet the pretend UMNO (the real UMNO was killed by this fake UMNO) has criminalized good governance and principles.
#6 by monsterball on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 12:15 am
vsp..I was hoping LKS will sack that idiot which I suspect it is himself moderating…..hahahahahaha
#7 by monsterball on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 12:21 am
Now back to the main topic.
Najib have a serious split personality that make him totally unreliable.
Infact he had that all his life.
It is now…we begin to read..observe and even got Ambiga confused.
It is our bad luck to have a natural Dr. Jackle & Mr.Hyde…no mixture of portions needed….automatically change from one person to another.
In lay man’s term…a cracko PM.
#8 by monsterball on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 12:43 am
I responded to vsp…and his comment deleted.
Moderator makes me sound like a cracko myself!!
#9 by monsterball on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 12:47 am
Latest news….Lim Kit Siang and 90 more..including Anwar and Ambiga banned from going towards Stadium Negara and traveling to certain roads or streets in K.L.
That Najib’s leadership.
#10 by donplaypuks on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 12:49 am
Najib, Putrajaya and this current leadership of UMNO, MCA and MIC can no more be trusted than you would a poisonous viper.
They are the real traitors in Malaysia who want to turn it into a Police State.
We must fight that at all costs!
dpp
We are all of 1 Race, the Human Race
#11 by born in Malaya on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:13 am
Personally, I feel that Najib is running a dirty and unfair election, if not, why is he so afraid of a rally by Bersih about free, fair and clean election.
Why is he wasting tax payers’ money by asking police and FRU to block here and there to prevent citizens to attend the rally,
the people attending the rally are just ordinary citizens and they are not criminals, why should they be arrested for a good cause???.
Why should an organisation like Bersih who runs by the oppositions be named illegal and Perkasa and UMNO youth are named legal??.
Just because they are controlling the police and FRU, they are abusing their powers given to them by voters and citizens.
Najib keep asking people not to rally to solve grievances but he never mention what other method should be used to solve grievances??.
When Bersih went to apply a rally permit, they do not approve and they name them illegal.
It is very obvious that the government is bias and racist too.
When Bersih has agreed to hold the rally in the stadium as requested by Agong and Najib, this is a very clear sign that Bersih is not trying to cause any trouble, but now, Najib pass the buck to the police to say no to rally in Stadium, what an irresponsible PM.
The truth is, until today, I did not see any trouble that is caused by Bersih other then wearing yellow T-shirts.
But the troubles and inconveniences cause by Najib has a whole list as follows:-
1) Creating fears on Malaysians by asking people not to go KL on this week.
2) Road blocking most KL roads and wasting Tax payers’ money for nothing.
3) Creating stupid road blocks every where by instructing police to block roads and thus wasted Malaysians petrol and time on traffic Jams.
4) I don’t see police working that hard in catching thieves and burglars.
5) Wasting government money in media and news on the rally issue.
6) If businesses in KL are really are affected ,they should claim losses from Najib since he is the one who inform people not to go KL and he is the one who instructed the road blocks and create fear in Malaysians.
We must really think seriously about changing this tyrant and racist government. hopeless leader.
#12 by passerby on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 3:57 am
Umno and Najib have no intention to allow bersih to demonstrate peacefully at the stadium. The meeting with the Agung is just ploy and there was never any intention to allow any demonstration.
See he is using the police to arrest or placing restriction order on the leaders and active members of the bersih group and will use the army with order to shoot. At the same time he is also giving moral support to keris welding silat group that is prepared to go to war inside the country.
#13 by Bigjoe on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 4:56 am
The question is after these last few weeks, the question should be how many idiots think Putrajaya can be trusted? They are corruption and power addicts that have gone out of control. They rather people be killed then to admit they have been fools from the start and face the fact their lies are broken.
You don’t trust crazed addicts – even if they are loves ones. Like it or not that is what we face.
#14 by Bigjoe on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 5:02 am
Can you believe Najib today tweeted he is giving out Liverpool tickets on radio in the middle of all THESE? We really have NERO fiddling while Rome burns on our hands..
#15 by bruno on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 5:34 am
Putrajaya can be trusted.But it depends on who is in charge.At present if Ambiga was in charge I would trust her.If the present batch of tenants occupying Putrajaya,if I had to choose I would rather prefer to trust the fox to be in charge of the henhouse.At least the fox would leave behind a couple of chickens for me.Thats how bad Putrajaya is.
#16 by ReformMalaysia on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 5:53 am
The should be even addressed as Putrajaya…… they are just caretaker of Putrajaya at the moment
Trying to play tricks so that the BERSIH 2.0 can be foiled at all means…
Well the can try…….
BERSIH 2.0 may be disrupted………but
BERSIH 2.1 may come sooner or later
Barisan Nasional would still have face the people in the coming election….
The people want fair and transparent election… as the is how the democracy supposed to be….. and that is what BERSIH is all about..
but BN is going against the wishes of the people
All right thinking people would stop this oppressive government in the coming election
#17 by ReformMalaysia on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 5:55 am
tppo..
..”they should not even be addressed as “Putrajaya…”
#18 by undertaker888 on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 7:43 am
If they love PUTRAJAYA so much, let’s confine umno and its anak anak lincah dan nyanyuk within this compound after ge13. together with lynas and the nuclear plant.
If LKS and the rest were banned from certain roads, never mind lo. Just fly in on a helicopter.
#19 by Bigjoe on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 7:43 am
Can you believe Cabinet Minister were arguing that the Agung MUST ACT on the advise of the PM – Everything not just those outlined in the constitution – they now think they own the Agung? Can you believe the freaking spoilt entitled brats they are?
And..they are trying to squirm out that meeting Ambiga does not mean meeting with Bersih? Unbelievable these entitled infantiles
#20 by undertaker888 on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 7:51 am
How come these umno goons always thought that they were under attack when the rakyat asked for
Free n fair election
corruption eradication
justice
equality
are they that frigging bad?
#21 by Bunch of Suckers on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 7:56 am
Look at the ways they govern and lead our nation!!! Foreign investments are not increasing instead shrinking.
More people are seeking for jobs with failures and frustrations under this corrupted, incompetent and chauvinistic government, BN/UMNO.
Bunch of suckers keep sucking here and there… They suck everything and every which they do as only $$$
#22 by drngsc on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 8:43 am
Ayooh,
If we are BERSIH, they are BERSERK.
They are no longer rational. They are behaving like animals corner, fighting for the life. They will strike out in every and any direction, hoping to survive.
From the very beginning, they cannot see that allowing BERSIH may give them a better chance to survive. Now it is too late for them.
So it is no longer an issue just of trust. It also becomes an issue of irrational behaviour. We have to factor that into our planning.
We must change the tenant at Putrajaya.
#23 by best4rakyat on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 8:59 am
Act now and soon or never you will.
Rename Putrajaya to BersihJaya then!
#24 by Not spoon fed on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:01 am
How to truth Barisan Nasional when (since Mahahtir’s time):
1. allows Taib to be so rich and making rural Sarawakians (Bumpitra, orang asli, Melayu) without electricity and poor: see http://www.sarawakreport.org
2. allows money to buy votes: see proof at http://www.sarawakreport.org?
3. allows RM888 billion to be taken out Malasyia illegally from 2000 to 2008: http://iff-update.gfip.org
4. allows Election Commission to draw electroral territory with bias policies?
5. allows their members (UMNO) to be kronies and be so rich during their ruling time like Toyo, etc.?
Countless list….
#25 by Not spoon fed on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:07 am
How to act now?
Please go to the ground works:
1. The rural people of Sarawak and Sabah do not have computer and do not know the corruption of their BN leaders.
2. For Sarawak, pls use overhead projector or printed out the billion property owned by Taib & his cronies to show at each long hosue.
3. Aggressive showing proof of corruption of BN via open seminars/talks (ceramah) in 5 Pakatan States and others states are more urgent than violating present civil laws and go to fail.
If you go to jail without trial, you would lose the chance to contest again.
So, please focus on chaning the tenants of Putrajayais more important than violating civil laws yourself.
#26 by wanderer on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:15 am
Anyone who puts his trust on this freaking Mongolian killer deserved to be scr*wed!!
For that matter, can anyone trust the current bunch from this racist party?
A prostitute has more honor and decency….
they unashamedly, earned an honest living without having to tell lies.
#27 by Comrade on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:20 am
Why is Umno/BN so scared of Bersih?
The reason is NR and gang are ‘Kotor’
So we know what to do come polling day
Vote in PR to bring back the rule of law
#28 by boh-liao on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:42 am
TRUST? An alien word in UmnoB/BN’s vocabulary
SHAME! But dis UmnoB/BN led gomen knows no shame
NR kept yelling abt transformation 4 d better n wanting M’sian talents 2 return home
ALL his actions r contrary 2 what he claimed 2 achieve – ALL B’Sit n insincere, lies
In sum, his actions n inactions in d last 2 weeks will drive more talents 2 LEAVE d nation n p!ss off talents fr RETURNING 2 M’sia
We hv more n more signs dat dis is a FAILED STATE, ruled by a shameless grp of politicians hellbent 2 preserve their power n corrupt practices at all cost
In fact, it seems NR, HH want chaos n disorder 2 occur so dat they can justify d use of ISA
Yes, operasi lalang is a great weapon for NR n UmnoB 2 achieve total victory in GE13
“是小人，欢喜君子犯过，唯恐天下不乱也”
Learn fr history!
#29 by yhsiew on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:43 am
The country has lost its international standing in terms of trustworthiness and keeping of promises under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The will have an adverse impact on the government’s effort to lure foreign direct investment.
#30 by yhsiew on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:46 am
Ooops!
“The will have” should be “This will have”.
#31 by yhsiew on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:56 am
///We are all Malaysians but to endorse a group that is prepared to wage war against fellow citizens over philosophical differences is definitely not what Malaysians should expect from a national leader.///
Malaysians do not want a national leader who encouraged civil wars.
#32 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 9:57 am
Malaysia has suffered fools for prime ministers and cabinet ministers for far too long.
This GE, all the BN nincompoops must be sent packing to their rabbit holes.
#33 by boh-liao on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 10:08 am
Don’t expect much fr d grp in Putrajaya
They hv never heard of
“格物、致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下”的人生理想与“穷则独善其身，达则兼济天下”的积极而达观的态度
& also 孝、悌、忠、信、礼、义、廉、耻
Let alone understand them
Dat’s Y we r in a big, fat mess
#34 by boh-liao on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 10:22 am
NR n UmnoB: How low can you go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jkowBtwnHM&feature=related
#35 by Loh on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 11:20 am
Najib leaves everything to the police, and so Malaysia is a police state. Najib’s now reports to the Police. Whatever he said were mere suggestions, and it is the Police which controls everything. The parliament should censure the PM and demand that he resigns.
#36 by dagen on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 11:43 am
MERDEKA.
MERDEKA.
MERDEKA.
#37 by Bigjoe on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 11:43 am
Every police should make up their minds what they want to do on Saturday. IF they participate in the crackdown, don’t blame anyone when PR takes over and corruption drive automatically suspect them of corruption and power abuse. They have to ask themselves, is their bosses worth kissing up to on Saturday because its only about that. Its not their job. They can call in sick on Saturday..
#38 by Godfather on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:05 pm
Of course Putrajaya can be trusted. They can be trusted as much as we can trust some legal clown who comes to this blog to shout “IT’S A TRAP, IT’S A TRAP”.
With his legalistic mumbo jumbo, he then tells us to stop whatever we are doing because it would be like lambs to the slaughter. I’ll bet he has closed his front door, and stocked up his pantry with food from the supermarket. Such is the heroism of particular lawyers.
RISE AND RISE, UNTIL LAMBS BECOME LIONS
#39 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:17 pm
///Can Putrajaya be trusted?/// Funny question. If it can is there a need for Bersih?Yesterday, the police issued a restriction order on 91 individuals, including organisers of the Bersih 2.0, Perkasa and Umno Youth’s rallies & PR’s top leaders. Notwithstanding Ambiga for Bersih said last night, “We will gather peacefully and look forward to seeing you at Stadium Merdeka.”
OK, this means you’re willing to go forward and risk all top Opposition and Civil Society leaders being arrested, and if any agent provocateur there starts any physical violence, the justification for all of them to be detained longer under the ISA instead of the Police Act.
Maybe its good we have the country without Opposition and NGO. This seems to be the argument – no point of us having a facade and charade of free election or democracy. What about the 4 State Govt controlled by PR or campaigning for coming 13th GE if there’s one soon? Those not on the “wanted list” and not marching will take of these without the top leaders?
#40 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:22 pm
PDRM’s list has a critical mistake : it forgets to include the greatest driving force of the March – Godfather. This critical omission will surely cause the govt to collapse tomorrow under the weight of Bersih’s protest.
#41 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:23 pm
//RISE AND RISE, UNTIL LAMBS BECOME LIONS// – the clarion call of a goat!
#42 by dagen on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:27 pm
Can putrajaya be trusted?
Phaark! No.
#43 by Godfather on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:35 pm
Can you imagine the lawyer in raincoat, bleating “IT’S A TRAP, IT’S A TRAP” ? Sounds like shorty in Fantasy Island….
#44 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 1:47 pm
Don’t however make a mistake of the beard of a goat -that is good in goading others to be scapegoats- for a lion’s mane!
#45 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 2:29 pm
Putrajaya tries show it can be “trusted” by having Dang Wangi police issue permit for Bersih rally to be carried on in the Stadium Merdeka (as wanted by Bersih) in fulfillment of Najib’s promise of the ‘Stadium’ being Ok. The only thing that can jam Bersih is the Merdeka Stadium officials stonewalling. Get the OK from Stadium officials, its important as they can still say “no” but if they say “yes”, then Bersih will be OK and regain the initiative on 3 advantages: (1) it would be a legal assembly (2) the police issuance of permit will be contrary/contradictory to police’s own classification of Bersih as an outlaw organisation and movement (for it may be asked why issue permit to an organisation if it were really outlaw without the ban removed)(3) in light of the restricted order demand that the police act out its own order to arrest UMNO Youth if they want to talk from Bukit Bintang to Stadium or rather outsuide the stadium (illegal assembly). Same for Perkasa – its application for rally is stadium Titiwangsa rejected. Net it means Bersih is the only rally on Saturday Okayed as “legal” with permit. Thats the winning point (if stadium officials don’t hijack the course of events).
#46 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 2:51 pm
Najib appears to have belakang ‘outmanoeuvered’ his party rivals/right wingers and also reclaim initiative. They want him to slam hard on Bersih to destroy his image with US or alternatively risk violence on streets (by agent provocateurs blamed on Bersih) so that they could blame him for not controlling Bersih. He has ‘outmanoeuvred’ them by (1) getting police to issue permit to Bersih for rally in Merdeka Stadium (restore his ‘credibility’ of allowing the stadium in his first statement) (leaving Khairy’s UMNO youth proposed march from Bkt Bintang and Perkasa’s strolling around the grounds in Titiwangsa to risk defiance of police restricted order). Here Bersih one up over these two. (2) especially the King’s unprecedented advice – and refusal to strongly condemn Bersih and in fact granting Bersih’s reps a royal audience (and no one else) making those (hardliners) who want to crackdown on Bersih hard to be “outlaw” to be in untenable position of having to say that the King has granted audience to an outlaw organisation. Check Mate. (Until next round when the Empire strikes back)!
#47 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 3:20 pm
Which is why however way the game is played, PM Najib is the winner. He may not be “confrontational” like TDM – he prefers sideway- but his office (as PM) is powerful. (Thats why people sell their principles and even their own kinsmen to seat on that chair, and whoever who sits there will not readily give it up). Also he has got many advisers (some of them like APCO paid from public funds) to advise and help him with strategies and counter strategies (whether against opposition or its own party’s rivals).
#48 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 3:34 pm
How can Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Amar Singh tell Malaysiakini that a permit had not been issued and yet Bersih had the impression from Dang Wangi police that it could pick up the permit? Pressed on the matter, he conceded that the first person to know would be the Dang Wangi district police chief Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman, but that a police permit was still unlikely. According to Malaysiakini Amar Singh said “The best person to ask is Zulkarnain. But I just got off the phone with him. He didn’t mention anything about approving the permit”.
Has the the other side has struck back and the police now said “no permit”? It shows different parties may have their influence on different parts of the police organisation on the govt’s position (to do their bid). Bersih is in caught right the middle.
#49 by Loh on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 3:56 pm
Najib appears to have won the dirty game based on the strategies used by people of the three-kingdom where honour meant nothing, and the end justifies the means.
Najib’s fear of people’s anger towards the government is not unfounded. Najib knows that people are not only angry with BN in the way election in the country has been conducted. The call by Bersih only concentrates on one aspect of non-governance perpetrated by BN. Najib knows that the people are angry at the government because of corruption, nepotism, double standards and rule by law. In other countries procession and protest were on one issue whereas in Malaysia, the government has done so much wrong that if the people choose to express their disappointment, the government could very well be toppled. So to Najib he is justified that he should prevent people expressing their opinion on the government. But it is precisely the purpose of allowing the people to tell the government of minor wrongs so that the government could take action before they became a fiasco that article 10 of the constitution provides for free assembly. Najib knows that his government is beyond redemption. So Najib cannot afford to allow people to tell him what they feel about the government. Since he is afraid of people’s judgement against him, it is likely that he would find an excuse to make the coming election suspended indefinitely. Who knows Najib may be planning emergency rule.
#50 by Godfather on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 4:22 pm
Stop the pontification, counselor. No permit gets issued without Najib’s say so. No empire strikes back, because there was no strike from the other side in the first place. No need for conjecture and all sorts of “wham, bang” in legalese. Just show up in your yellow underwear tomorrow.
#51 by Jeffrey on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 5:02 pm
You’ll be there?
#52 by cemerlang on Friday, 8 July 2011 - 7:40 pm
All retired, do join. As for your question, answer is …sorry…I mean….no I don’t mean….I am not sure what I mean….