The launch of the seven-week Bersih 5 convoy in Johor, which is held simultaneously today in five other locations in the country, is a historic occasion for patriotic Malaysians regardless of race, religion, region or politics to reclaim the country from undemocratic, corrupt and opportunistic forces in the country which are prepared to see the country hurtle down the slippery slope towards a failed state provided they can achieve their selfish and greedy objectives.

The Election Commission’s most undemocratic redelineation of electoral constituencies in the nation’s history, even more unfair and undemocratic than the four previous redelineation exercises, has only highlighted the importance, relevance and urgency of the Bersih’s cause and primary objective to have clean, free and fair elections.

Nov. 19 should be a rendevous with history for all Malaysians concerned not only about the future of democracy but also the future of the plural Malaysian nation – why a country with so much promise for greatness in various fields of human endeavour and which could be a showcase of successful multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation to the world has overnight becoming a “basket-case” of nation-building?

Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or politics, must shame the Malaysian Government for adopting an indifferent, nonchalant and unashamed attitude to the nation acquiring the international infamy of becoming a “global kleptocracy”!

Yesterday, the country saw the fiasco of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Paul Low, announcing proposals for political financing when he dared not take a stand on Malaysia becoming a “global kleptocracy” after he was appointed Minister with specific charge of integrity and good governance, or on the issues of 1MDB financial scandal, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuits for forfeiture of US$1 billion 1MDB-linked assets in the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland from over US$3 billion embezzlement, misappropriation and money-laundering of 1MDB funds under the US Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative or the “mystery” of who is “MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1” (MO1)!

On top of these “corruption” woes for Malaysia, I find it a great regret that Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh) is playing the racial card of reducing Malaysian politics into Malay versus Chinese when it should be a battle between integrity, good governance and democracy versus corruption, bad governance and authoritarian rule.

Bersih 5 marks another historic milestone of political awakening of the Malaysian people, regardless of race, religion, region or politics to save Malaysia from global kleptocracy, disunity and ruin.

It deserves the support of all patriotic Malaysians who are prepared to put the national interests to Save Malaysia above all other subordinate or sectional interests.

[Media Statement after the launch of the second stop in Gelang Patah of Bersih 5 Convoy (Johor) on Saturday, 1st October 2016 at 11 am]