King’s concern most welcome – call on Najib to meet with Bersih organisers as the first positive government response to popular concerns for free and fair elections


The Yang di Pertuan Agong’s concern over the “binge of madness” in the country arising from the July 9 Bersih 2.0 peaceful rally for free, fair and clean general elections is most appropriate and welcome.

Lets not doubt the loyalty and patriotism of Malaysians who want to see free and fair general elections – which is the highest form of love, loyalty and patriotism to Malaysia.

As a first positive step in response to the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s concern and call that Malaysia must always conduct itself as “a civilised society” grounded on consultations with all stakeholders in the country, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should meet with Bersih organisers to address legitimate nation-wide concerns about free and fair elections which could be fully taken account in the forthcoming 13th General Elections.

As a second positive step, the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin should lift the ban on Bersih 2.0 and release all persons, including the MP for Sungei Siput Dr. Michael Jayakumar, detained in the past week of high-handed “madness” over the Bersih 2.0 rally.

  1. #1 by Cinapek on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 10:17 am

    Having painted themselves into a corner, Najib and Hisham should be thankful to His Majesty for providing a lifeline for them to get out, albeit with their credibility further eroded.

    His Majesty had emphasized the words “civilised society” to underscore the point that both sides should talk things out. Ambiga had behaved in a civilised manner when she had sought to have another meeting with the IGP this week after the initial meeting last week. But the IGP and DIGP had arrogantly declared that there will be no further talks and slam the door shut on any further discussions. If that arrogant “uncivilised” stand to stop discussions was instructed by their political bosses and if this whole “uncivilised” bunch do not want to have themselves labelled uncivilised, they should release all those detained and drop all charges as a prelude to the discussions with Bersih 2. If Najib has the political courage to do this he should seize this golden opportunity not only to squirm his way out from a no-win situation but also score brownie points for his “magnanimity”.

  2. #2 by bruno on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 10:30 am

    Like the Agung said Najib should meet with the Bersih organisers.Then whatever the outcome is lets hope that cooler heads will prevail.If after the meeting it is not feasible for the rally to go on so be it.At least both sides can save face.There is no need for confrontation because it doesn’t serve any purpose anymore.

    If Hisham agrees to lifting the ban on Bersih so much the better.If not than let the people wait for GE 13th. Then if Umno gets the broom,lets put Hisham up as guest of Kamunting,because he needs to be taught a lesson.These last few months Umno has shot themselves so many times in the foot.They have dug themselves a hole so deep that only a miracle can help them now.

    Those events that happened these last few months have help many fence sitters decide whom they want to support.If there are some who have not decided the Umno youth mat rempit fiasco would have help them decide.If the 600 mat rempit terrorist cannot scared voters away from Umno then nothing can.So rally or no rally only GE 13 th will decide the next GOM.

  3. #3 by wanderer on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 10:41 am

    Let’s hope the infamous two “Kerismen”…the kissing cousins are not mad enough to throw the fancy dressed man into a cage…just for dressing yellow and having yellow all over him! Men in blue, even as donkeys that stupidity has a limit. What say you, DIGP?

  4. #4 by drngsc on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 11:27 am

    Is the Minister of Defence, going against the King, when he said this morning ( after the King’s edict last night ), that the army is ready to preserve the country’s peace. Is this a veiled threat after the king’s edict? Army preserving in peace times?

    We must change the tenant at Putrajaya.

  5. #5 by Joshua on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 11:38 am

    some people just want the may 13 as repeated to stay in illegal power.

    that should not happen now.

  6. #6 by voice2009 on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 11:51 am

    While the heat on

    Set up booth for signature of support in shopping, market, etc

    Encourage Yellow T-shirt for support

    Giver orange (yellow) free for promotion

    Let’s roll on

  7. #7 by voice2009 on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 11:51 am

    While the heat on

    Set up booth for signature of support in shopping, market, etc

    Encourage Yellow T-shirt for support

    Give orange (yellow) free for promotion

    Let’s roll on

  8. #8 by dagen on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 12:30 pm

    A responsive and responsible government would always listen to the people and would always keep the line for communication with the people open.

    Umno decided to cut communication with the people on this important issue. The great umno police arrogantly (and disastrously) announced that the great umno police will not talk anymore.

    That announcement, although was by the great umno police, is as good as an announcement by jibby jib himself. So really the agung ought to call on umno and jibby jib to maintain communication with the people.

    This thing about umno rally vs people’s rally which jibby jib has been threatening, really jib and umno ought to realise that past and present events of the world tell us one piece of reality consistently. Nothing could be more powerful than people’s power! That is why suppression/oppression was created by dictator governments (like umno). Suppression and oppression by their very nature are measures that could be maintained for brief periods and on temporary basis only.

    Vote umno out!

  9. #9 by boh-liao on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 12:31 pm

    Might YPA invite Bersih 2.0 to hv its rally inside d palace (maintained by rakyat taxes) ground?

  10. #10 by baochingtian on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 12:56 pm

    Msiakini://Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed the Agong’s call for restraint over the matter of Bersih 2.0’s planned rally on Saturday, …//
    Like it or not, YELLOW is final, dead end!

  11. #11 by DAP man on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 1:10 pm

    May I remind the stupid Defence Minister that the army is to protect the country against foreign powers and not to protect UMNO from losing the general election.
    I suggest every single citizen wear a yellow shirt on Saturday since the rally has been aborted.

  12. #12 by Jeffrey on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 1:16 pm

    Actually our King is playing his constitutional monarch role. Though above politics and supposedly non partisan, in times of great national dissension and divisions he lends his voice that supposedly has moral suasion on all conflicting parties to work out a compromise to national interests as a whole. The King has asked for compromise and the PM has made the overture that Bersih could exercise its freedom of assembly at the national stadium. It remains to be seen that he will release all those arrested for supporting Bersih.

    In asking conflicting parties to talk rather than have a face off it is incumbent for Najib to invite and talk direct with Bersih’s leaders.

    It was reported by Malaysiakini (4th July) that Anwar had tweeted “(I) hope Bersih will consider (seeking an) audience with Tuanku to show the flaws and fraud of the (Election Commission) EC”.

    This is not correct. Firstly Bersih is supposedly independent of political infleunece and agenda (though political parties’ supporters are invited to support its agenda). (Ambiga has already reminded Anwar before that Bersih would act according to its own determination and not Anwar’s directives or suggestions. Otherwise it would buttress the government’s allegations that NGO Bersih served political agenda of the Opposition or more particularly its defacto head’s). Secondly if Bersih were to show Tuanku “the flaws and fraud of the (Election Commission) EC” it will tantamount to embroiling the Constitutional monarch in partisan politics.

  13. #13 by monsterball on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 1:57 pm

    In short the King said…”COOL IT!!”
    And who is fanning it hot?
    So we can say…the King feels for Malaysians.
    I take the King’s Speech.. as a slap on the face to Najib..Hisham ..Nazri and Moooo.

  14. #14 by baochingtian on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 1:57 pm

    *11 by DAP man.
    Rally aborted? Will there be announcement that sat a public holiday and a fiesta to celebrate the victory by bn?
    That saves CSL the headache to issue warning letters to MCA members who r going to join Bersih walk.
    Gerakan will now recognise protests at Komtar and Pg bridge r not civilized after reading the special statement from our beloved Yang di Pertuan Agong.

  15. #15 by habis on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 2:25 pm

    The Govt.shouldn’t be hysterical by banning Bersih.Just look at our neighbour Thailand where the police are not partisan to either the Red Shirts or yellow shirts protesters and the way the recent national election was carried out.Our Police force have much to learn from them and their sacred duty is to play a neutral role in the administration of the laws in our beloved country.All of us welcome our King’s call for restraint by all parties particularly the Executive and not to blindly bluntly use the brunt force of the Emergency Ordinance to suppress the voice of the rakyat.A Govt for the People must act in a civilised manner to gain respect of the rakyat and communicate,listen to the voice of the rakyat to find a just solution in the interest of the rakyat.If ever Bersih is to be illegal then the same should apply to the red shirts patriots,Perkasa and all the others.I admire the gentlemanly way Abhisit congratulate Yingluck and I hope all Malaysian political leaders should emulate Thai political leaders but sad to say they are far off the mark.People’s Power is ultimate and the rakyat will Decide which party Deserve the Privilege Sacred Duty to Safeguard the Rights of All Malaysians to have a Rightful place under the Malaysian sun.

  16. #16 by best4rakyat on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 3:09 pm

    No falling into “rats-cage” business by the untrust crooks by gathering at stadium propose by the loser Najib.
    We respect seeking audience with DYMM YDPA our Tuanku Yang Maha Mulia. King’s respect as he hear rakyat’s voice better than the PM of the time.
    Otherwise,rakyats will rather walk on the street to accomplish the right for Bersih2.0

  17. #17 by baochingtian on Monday, 4 July 2011 - 3:54 pm

    Walk in yellow to the stadium and a hold a ceramah there.

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