The Malaysian Insider
June 18, 2011
BEAUFORT, June 18 – The opposition is hiding behind the planned Bersih 2.0 rally with a plot to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
The Umno deputy president (picture) said the opposition’s agenda was to create a momentum among the people to hate the government by raising various issues beyond the call for clean and fair elections.
“They are trying to use street demonstrations against the government to achieve their road to Putrajaya,’’ Muhyiddin told reporters after opening the annual meeting of Beaufort Umno.
The Bersih 2.0 electoral watchdog group has called for a rally in Kuala Lumpur on July 9 to demand the Election Commission (EC) clean the electoral roll, reform postal vote, use indelible ink, free and fair access to media and have a minimum 21 days campaign period.
The group which comprises opposition parties, non-governmental organisations and activists are also asking the government to strengthen public institutions, stop corruption and dirty politics.
But Muhyiddin pointed out that if the elections had not been free and fair, how could the opposition win so many parliamentary seats and four state governments in 2008.
“If it is not free and fair, how could they make electoral gains. If they win they keep quiet and if they lose they claim unfairness, why the double standards. I think their motive is a short cut to Putrajaya,” he said.
The three parties that later formed Pakatan Rakyat (PR) – PKR, DAP and PAS – won 82 federal seats and four more states in Election 2008 which saw BN losing its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time ever since becoming a coalition in 1974. That victory came after the first Bersih rally in 2007.
Umno and Malay rights group Perkasa have denounced the rally, saying it would lead to chaos, have an impact on tourism and is a threat to national security. Several police reports have also been lodged against the rally.
Umno Youth has also announced it will hold its own rally against the Bersih rally, joining Perkasa which was the first group to counter the rally.
The police have said it will not issue permits for any rally on that day and will mount operations to prevent gatherings in the city.
#1 by waterfrontcoolie on Saturday, 18 June 2011 - 10:59 pm
The truth is, this is the reality of the issue. If BN had ruled with minmum corruption; such thing may not be easy to organize. So before you say it; just look at the mirror and ask yourself if you had been FAIR to the Malaysian population by squandering away most of the resources of the nation; no indeed by stealing most of it! it would appear this is an understatement. How would you explain that Bn were able to win so much support prior to 308? And the sudden change! Doesn’t that tell the reason?
#2 by monsterball on Saturday, 18 June 2011 - 11:03 pm
hahahahahahaha…cannot help laughing reading Mhuyiddin’s comment.
To me…it sounds like a confession.
BERSIH….means CLEAN…and that worries him….hahahahahahaha
#3 by Jeffrey on Saturday, 18 June 2011 - 11:23 pm
Ultimately if election rules were rigged/dirty – which implies no democratic election is possible to change government by the rules of the law – naturally those who desire to change it will think of the only other available alternative: rule of the street demonstrations… Which is why (who knows?) 9th July may be a tinder box (in worst case scenario) if all parties (those who want to have regime change and those who want preserve status quo) converge. Though before event, rationality is there, however during event if and when crowds of opposing actions grow bigger who can really vouch he could control them (assuming there’s no shortage of provocateurs with their hidden agendas) amongst the crowds? This is something we have to be prepared for.
#4 by mwrulz on Saturday, 18 June 2011 - 11:46 pm
“But Muhyiddin pointed out that if the elections had not been free and fair, how could the opposition win so many parliamentary seats and four state governments in 2008.”
If the elections were truly ‘free and fair’, perhaps we would already have seen Pakatan in Putrajaya….? It’s also possible that only because of corruption and unfair elections that Pakatan did not win more seats and states.
#5 by yhsiew on Saturday, 18 June 2011 - 11:47 pm
I believe Muhyiddin was worried that if Bersih’s call for a clean and fair election makes an impact on the minds of the public, BN will not be able to practice vote rigging anymore and as a result, many BN seats will go to the Opposition in future elections.
Muhyiddin should have nothing to fear if BN has been honest in every past election.
#6 by limkamput on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 12:09 am
Sure the opposition is using Bersih. But what about BeEnd? Perkasa, Utusan, the Star, NST, RTM, Prima Media, Pemudah, fake 1Malaysia, the Police, the Judiciary, MACC, EC, the National Treasury, BTN, RELA, MCMC, Jasa, Kemas, EPF, Petronas, and Wataniah. See, I list them effortlessly. So what is the big deal?
#7 by bruno on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 12:47 am
Muyidin is just churning words between Hishamudin,Rais Yatim and himself.They are just trying to confuse and intimidate the people.But they are sounding out that this is a political rally.Prominent politicians must not be seen in the Bersih crowd.Or else Umno will have the excuse to send in their calvary goons.
Then they are going to have a field day.It will make Ops Lallang look like a kindergarden picnic.
The MCA is as quiet as a ‘tikus’.MIC is also ‘mia’.
The two lapdogs of Umno are not barking.When the biggest event of the year(or century) is on the horizon and Umno’s barking
lapdogs are so very quite as a tikus something is very wrong.Umno has something up their sleeves.
#8 by mui kuai fa on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 3:50 am
If Bersih is = Clean and democratic election. According to DPM Bersih = to topple BN. Then he is saying Clean and democratic election = topple BN government. So BN will not be toppled by dirty and undemocratic election !! Wow, it is an admission by the DPM !!! Have some dignity and vote Opposition!
#9 by Joshua on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 5:35 am
MY said ““If it is not free and fair, how could they make electoral gains. If they win they keep quiet and if they lose they claim unfairness, why the double standards. I think their motive is a short cut to Putrajaya,” he said.
Switching of ballot boxes would be limited by a small of ballot papers for each seats.
If there were no switching of ballot boxes by the Election Commission, the margin of losses in most seats would be bigger and PR could have won in several more seats to be in Putrajaya already.
Based on the official electoral records, GE2004 and GE2008 were heavily rigged by EC.
Can anyone explain how the ballot papers were obtained in those switched ballot boxes? Were they bought from the Government printer?
How much did it cost then BN candidates?
http://fresh-air-in-iggg.blogspot.com/ – go there for more
#10 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 5:49 am
PLOT??? It clear the opposition is not hiding THE FACT. I think he betray his frame of mind that the Malays are too dumb to think they have a right to remove UMNO/BN.
Or is it even worst? That NO ONE has the right to topple UMNO/BN. The SOB is a closet self-righteous extremist who think he and his kind (meaning the Perkasa kind) is ordained to rule perpetuity?
#11 by bruno on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 6:16 am
Muyidin was correct when he said that Barisan National would be toppled.This is because of the infighting and shuffling of positions by factions trying to replace Najib.Statements by certain Umno leaders usually contradict each other.Najib,Muyidin and Abrahim Ali never said and do the same things,because they are from different factions.That is why Umno cannot consolidate its power after the 2008 GE loss of 2/3 majority.
The recent PAS party election of moderate leaders will put Umno in a bad footing too.A more moderate PAS will put the party more favourable to the Chinese and Indians.These will help the party win more seats this coming election.Then will come the final knockout blow.The upcoming Bersih rally.
That is why for the first time Umno is shivering and scared stiff.For the first time in Umno history they are in danger of losing the GE.Rats when cornered can be very dangerous animals.They can do a lot of unpredictable things.That is why a lot of things can happen from now to July 9.
#12 by Joshua on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 6:24 am
MY in Sabah is very nervous and go awry..
the signs of doom are already on the wall..
Bersih 2.0 = two zero for BN in Sabah and Sarawak = total loss.
RAHMAN with Najib as the last one of BN.
GE 13, where in Sabah 13 had been significant with changes of the State Governments in 67, 76, 85, 94 where the last two digits add up to 13 or 4 (sound dead).
Since the power grab by UMNO and Anwar in Sabah in 1994, there was the GE 1999, GE2004, GE2008. All GEs were rigged by Election Commission despite there were changes in state governments as the unseen hands had been overwhelming.
So come GE13, we are again staring at that number….
So be prepared for transformation of IGGG.
#13 by hallo on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 8:58 am
Say it loud ‘We are justice supporter’
‘We do not fear the corrupted politicians by rights by laws those corrupted politicians should be charged as CRIMINALS’
‘Yes, we are justice supporter’
‘Yes, we want BERSIH for all MALAYSIANS’
#14 by undertaker888 on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 9:35 am
For once this eggplant is right about something. Of course it is about toppling you dimwits but we’ll do it in the coming election.
So dirty cow, stop stopping bersih.
#15 by -e- on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 11:22 am
why do you worry if you come clean? that is the meaning of the word bersih. clean!
the intention of whoever opposing this campaign is clear.
#16 by Winston on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 11:40 am
The truth of the matter is that, if the elections in this country is done faily, the BN government would have been kaput long, long ago!
However, in spite of their machinations, the opposition still manages to win so many seats, means that the people really, really want the BN OUT!!!
That’s why BN is so scared of fair elections!!!
Fair elections means Be End for them!!!!
#17 by Comrade on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 10:03 pm
It is very clear that the real reason
Why Umno is against Bersih’s rally/protest
Is BN’s alleged practice of unfair election
Democratic election not in their interest
May the Bersih 2.0 turnout be big
If Umno is out to disrupt the peaceful rally
Then their own grave they are going to dig
Come GE13, may they lose badly