By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Jun 21, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — After a similar threat from Perkasa’s Datuk Ibrahim Ali Sunday, the Chinese community was yesterday warned against participating in next month’s Bersih rally via an email thread making its rounds to several media organisations here.
The email, sent by a self-proclaimed nationalist and blogger with the pseudonym “Panglima Perang Cyber” (cyber war commander), came with an attached video found on Youtube.com of the infamous May 1998 racial riots in Indonesia that caused the deaths of hundreds.
“Are the Chinese in Malaysia willing to accept the same fate as their brethren in Indonesia if our country goes into chaos?
“So let us 1 Malaysia Malay, Chinese and Indians reject the Bersih demonstration for the good of our grandchildren. Watch the video below,” the email read.
The email was delivered to the inboxes of 18 pro-Malay and pro-BN Facebook groups and carbon copied to media organisations like The Malaysian Insider, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Kosmo! and PAS organ Harakah.
The Malaysian Insider traced the writer to a blog site at http://penembak-tepat.blogspot.com/ where he/she described his/herself as a “defender of the country” who fights wholeheartedly for religion, race and the nation in the cyber world”.
The same Bersih posting was also found on the blogger’s Facebook group called “Facebooker 1Malaysia”, which sparked a heated debate between online users on the purpose of the rally.
One user, called “Dap Dapfan” argued that the Bersih rally, scheduled for July 9, had nothing to do with race.
“This is nothing doing with race bloody hell……!! Malaysia is not like Indonesia and this will never happen in Malaysia. Now is Malay/Chinese/Indian vs Malay/Chinese/Indian in different political field….plzz do not mis-interpreted the meaning of BERSIH 2.0!!,” said the user.
The same sentiment was also echoed earlier today by several politicians from both BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) who were rebutting a similar threat issued by Perkasa’s Ibrahim yesterday.
During the launch of Perkasa’s counter-protest against Bersih, the Pasir Mas MP had warned the Chinese community to stay indoors during the rally and to stock up on food as “anything could happen”.
In response, MCA leaders like vice-president Gan Ping Sieu and Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong condemned Ibrahim for attempting to lead the public into believing the gathering would turn into a racial riot. PR component parties and activists are gearing up to march on July 9 in the second such rally by election watchdog Bersih. Perkasa and Umno Youth will also hold separate marches on the same day. The first rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the capital’s street, before they were dispersed by police armed with tear gas and water cannon. That rally has also been credited for the PR’s record gains in Election 2008, where the opposition pact was swept to power in five states and won 82 parliamentary seats.
Among others, Bersih is demanding that the government ensure a clean and fair general election, reforms in the postal voting system, extend the campaign period to at least 21 days and others.
#1 by lee on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 7:23 am
well, initially, there really isnt a concrete purpose to join the BERSIH2.0 except to promote true democracy…BUT NOW, I would say because of this threat, now all Chinese+Indian+Malays MUST GO to the rally!!!!!!! MUST because not just for true democracy, but to uphold your role as Malaysian hoping and promoting true democracy and away with corrupt and stupidity in the government…and those who stock up food…i’m ashamed to remain so fearful…perhaps for another few more generations???
#2 by undertaker888 on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 7:37 am
July 9 – Bersih march
Nov 11 – Bersihkan Putrajaya
#3 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 7:38 am
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ibrahim Ali’s U-turn means we, or rather Bersih, drew First Blood. In Rambo’s infamous words, “it wasn’ our war, you ask me, I didn’t ask you..”
#4 by wanderer on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 8:32 am
Originally, I was not sure that I shall returen to participate in Bersih 2.00 rally…with the threats coming from the “Kotor bast*rd” camp,
I have booked my thicket to return and be there on th. July…come what may!!!
No guts, no glory…mad cap AI, eat your blooming heart out!
#5 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 8:47 am
///This (Bersih) is nothing doing with race, bloody hell……!!
“Yes” in terms of those who support it as well as its objectives – fair clean elections but “no” in terms of those against it. Bersih has everything to do with race from latter’s viewpoint. In a multiracial society how can a political party based on race based ideology maintain political dominance for so long? It is because (to cite the blogger) the ideology of “religion, race and the nation” is deemed important enough to justify electoral fraud gerrymandering and other irregularities to maintain it.
To march against electoral fraud and other irregularities (so as to permit wider enfranchisement and representation of all races) is to neutralize the very method by which the ruling communal party that upholds Ketuanan ideology draws its appeal and sustains its power.
#6 by dagen on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 8:47 am
Idiots. They just could not see it. Stupid. How very stupid. Bersih is about fair election. That is all. Bersih is not about getting in any conflict with any race. In fact bersih is a joint effort of all races (well minus some hindraf lalangs) in the country. According to one recent star online poll 99% of people responded positively to the Bersih movement this coming July.
And about the talk of racial riot. Now who really are those idiots who were going on and on about racial riot this 9th of July? Umno and umno only. Perkasa is umno. And all the anonymous bloggers – they too are umno people. The Bersih movement is peaceful. But it appears that umno is hell bent on disrupting it and inciting violence just so that the police has a reason to lock some people up.
#7 by dagen on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 8:54 am
Chinese participated in the movement for merdeka 50 yrs ago.
Now we have the Bersih movement. This July movement may bring about the real merdeka for the country and her people. Surely the chinese would not want to be left out.
No way man!
Racial riots? I bet my bottom dollar umno do not have the guts to bring about a second may 13. Not today. Not this generation of ferrari owning umnoputras.
#8 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 8:54 am
In that sense Ibrahim Ali & the Blogger are entirely coherent in attacking Bersih from the race angle because if Bersih succeeds, the party that upholds race policy and sustain its power from methods opposed to by Bersih will likewise fail, in the process of which, by extension, Ketuanan policies too will falter! If this country and 100% of its voters were of only one race, there is no doubt that Ibrahim Ali and the Blogger will join any march against electoral mal-practices/irregularities – but not in a multiracial voting base where such electoral mal-practices/irregularities are ancillary to the maintenance of political dominance of one against the others. Appropriately a timely reminder of May 13 by the Perkjasa Chief is also an oblique reminder of the justification for race policies. In this sense then, Bersih has everything to do with race. When Bersih marches against electoral irregularities, it strikes at the very heart of all that Ketuanan and its justification (My 13) stand for. Ibrahim is therefore correct (from his ideological viewpoint) to fight it.
#9 by best4rakyat on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 9:16 am
Firstly, why at initial statement and yet repeating this buddy Ali has to link ‘chinese’ only with the rally?
And as he later try to change and say that ‘chinese’ to store foods as explanation that they hardly participate…only 2 possible tactics that 1) he is trying to imply either ‘chinese’ always chicken-off or too afraid to be patriotic or 2) he is with intent to upset chinese malaysian so on that day he and perkasa will make racial as excuse to cause trouble.
Why Ali should look at it as only ‘chinese’ need to store foods?From what he got the idea of this and many can read his ill intention.
Thus,never shall malaysian allow this to happen again and we shall judge and justify this kind of racial leaders are not welcome in our harmonial society in nation.
#10 by bruno on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 9:17 am
The kitchen sink has been thrown at Ms. Ambiga.The laundry’s dirty water overflowing on the streets.Umno is pulling out all the stops.They will be going all out to intimidate the Bersih group.Whatever dirty tricks they know are going to be used.Threats,violence whatever they can used just to have excuses for the authorities to step in.They authorities will try to step in before July 9 so that they can have the rally cancelled.That is definitely the plan.IF this Bersih rally goes on as scheduled Umno is cooked.Period.
#11 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 9:24 am
The choices men make in life are never straight-forward because of competing priorities and imperatives. They are often weighed as to which more important, with the less important being is sacrificed.
One example is the question of whether to muzzle one who spews racist statements (that might incite, so to speak, the other greater fools that are equally if not more racist) by Sedition Act. If one to were to muzzle by the law, then one is indirectly legitimizing the very draconian law that in its other applications, also muzzle even those who speak the fair and the truth. This is why Anwar Ibrahim says he has misgivings about charging Ibrahim Ali with sedition.
#12 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 9:30 am
Likewise the dilemma of choice that one has to make on electoral mal-practices that Bersih marches against. These mal-pratices are bad per se. They are mockery to democracy, and democracy is important. However to some like the Perkasa chief, whilst democracy is important, race hegemony/dominance were, in a competition, even more important. Then how does one weigh & balance the scales of pros and cons?
If these electoral mal-practices were perceived to be important means by which the flag bearer of race policies sustain its power (mainly drawing its electoral support from one communal segment in exchange quid pro quo for their political dominance), wouldn’t these mal-practices be tolerated as a necessary evil, nay even supported, as means to an ideological end? For a champion of Ketuanan based on ‘social contract’ the answer is a definite yes.
If one further counter argues that what is good for the ruling minority elites is bad for majority in the country, then some answer may be found in Garrett Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons or the Commons Dilemma in earlier threads explained.
#13 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 9:40 am
Now for those who want to oppose and stop Bersih, they should consult bomoh and see if divine intervention of rain and thunderstorm on 9th July were possible to douse the fervour. Organisers of 3 marches should consult the Malaysian Meteorological Dept on weather forecast of 9th July. Weather is the arbiter – details of meteorological conditions were studied and planned- before launcing a great enterprsie like landing of Normany on D Day. So should the self appointed generals of the various marches. Make sure your foot soldiers wear the right coloured shirts to protest – whatever you are protesting about. Then bring the shirts to the city a few days before so that they may be changed into on the actual day for the rallies. Great plans succeed or fail not just based on vision but the details. Inclement weather can foil the best of plans.
#14 by ablastine on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 9:44 am
Wrong. Perkasa and the fat toad will still be against a march/movement that ask for electoral reform and fairness even though if Malaysia is homogenously of one race because Perkasa by and large is made up of UMNO members and cronies who have exclusively benefited from the mass plunder of the country at the expense of others. Clean and fair election as Bersih wants will mean that the mass of electorate who has been thoroughly exploited thus far will be able to use the power of their votes to kick out the corrupted depot and his regime. Perkasa and fat toad cannot allow that to happen because they have nothing that can enable themselves to survive on a level playing field.
The fat toad warning was exclusively for the Chinese as it is his perception that the Chinese are servile, selfish and can be easily cowed into submission by threats. I think he has mixed around too much with the MCA type who are basically brainless, balless and spineless. Can’t really blame him.
#15 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 9:58 am
The other ironical thing is that in a supposedly constitutional monarchy representative parliamentary system of government the King must act on the advice of the PM and cabinet. No electoral changes and clean up on the electoral laws and the Constitution unless Putrajaya agrees to them and so advises the Constitutional Monarch. In marching straight to the Istana and not Putrajaya, Bersih (led by ex Bar Council chair person Ambiga) has chosen to ignore or rather by-pass this simple constitutional fact. Indeed in going direct to the Monarch and embroiling his Majesty in political contention and partisan politics is to abjure the principle of Constitutional Monarchy and to (indirectly) revert to the feudal days where Monarchs had more power to override the Executive. This has been argued as necessary and expedient because the Executive is not responsive to electoral changes and it is a stalemate. So expedience overrides principle here.
#16 by baochingtian on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 10:15 am
For people not in KL, they can put on yellow t-shirts to show support to Bersih walk. Any organisations giving out yellow caps/shirts/headband/handkerchief/necktie/wristband etc to the crowds in any of the shopping malls?
#17 by lkt-56 on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 10:18 am
Bersih 2.0 march or no march, it is already a tremendous success judging by the tremendous response and attention paid to it. It has been said by our top leadership that politics is all about perception. To try to stop the march just reinforces the perception that all is not well with our electoral system. Digging your own grave?
#18 by Cinapek on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 10:44 am
The EC is supposed to be “independent”. Hence YB Kit is correct to invite the top BN leadership to march with Bersih. Because a clean election is a level playing field benefitting all parties.
But if the BN strenously condemns the rally and threatens to use the organs of state such as the PDRM and the ISA to derail the rally one can only come to one conclusion – that the BN does not want a clean election. And that leads to the next conclusion – that the BN standard operating procedure is to practise dirty elections with the support of the EC and this explains why they are strenously opposing the Bersih rally.
BN, damned if you do and damned if you don’t. You might still score some brownie points if you allow the rally to proceed peacefully. Then when actual elections come around, you can still happily practise your brand of dirty electioneering and use your EC co-conspirators to support your dirty tricks. Wayang-lah!
#19 by bruno on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 11:00 am
The more dirtier Umno gets the more support the opposition is going to get.Umno just doesn’t get it.Down and dirty is the only way they know.Come rally day the rakyat will make you Umnoputras go on your knees.
#20 by dagen on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 11:34 am
The bersih movement actually is beneficial to umno in another way. It is a prelude to an oncoming tsunami. Despite all the strongly worded warnings sounded by umno and various umno related parties/bodies against holding or participating in the planned 9th July Bersih KL street party, the momentum for the movement seems to be unabated.
Umno has no choice but to listen to the people. Umno could counter pakatan by abusing federal resources and by misusing the law enforcement bodies as well as the macc and ec and the judiciary. But umno would be completely powerless against the people. So umno must now listen to the people.
#21 by whylikethat on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - 10:54 pm
don’t listen to them!!!!!! they are purposely turning this in to racial and religion issues to divide us!!!! they have been doing that for so many years, they blind us all by using race and religion in hopes that we fight among ourselves. WE WILL NOT FALL FOR IT THIS TIME! I’m a kiasu-kiasi chinese but they have gone too far. i have never broken any laws in my life (excluding the occasional traffic ticket) and avoid any type of trouble especially when it involves the possibility of water cannons and tear gas. This time, count me in. I’m getting off my fat ass and show them that I’VE HAD ENOUGH!!! Oh ya, and I’ll be bringing my friends as well, the 80’s generation will come out of our kiasu-kiasi closet.