In the typical UMNO style that Malaysians have grown wearied of, new methods are being deployed by unseen hands to derail the anti-election fraud Bersih rally, seen as a slap in the face to the Najib administration which insists that free and fair elections are already being conducted in the country.
The Youth wing of Prime Minister Najib Razak's UMNO party is now the subject of a death threat that was issued to organising members of the Bersih 2.0 rally several days ago.
But despite the multi-pronged intimidation, which also saw a further 70 activists arrested on Sunday for wearing Bersih t-shirts and distributing leaflets for an unrelated anti-Lynas campaign, supporters of the July 9 rally were unfazed.
"These make us stronger," Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong, who is alsio a prominent civil rights activist, said on Twitter.
Many political watchers have stated it would be impossible for Najib and his BN coalition to win if electoral reforms were carried out. (scroll below for the full list demanded by Bersih)
Najib has retorted that if polls here were unfair, the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim would not have won 5 of the country's 13 states in the 2008 national elections. But the counter from the Pakatan is they would have taken over the federal government if the polls had been less skewed.
A switch for KJ
Meanwhile, UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, also called KJ for short, got a taste of what it felt like to be on the receiving end.
The cocooned son-in-law of former premier Abdullah Badawi was accused of Machiavellian schemings when he announced that UMNO Youth would also hold a rally and march along the same route as Bersih, but would not co-operate or join them.
This despite repeated invitations from Bersih chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan to join the mammoth rally organized by 62 of the country's most established NGOs. Khairy's refusal sparked accusations that Youth members might be used as agents to provoke unrest, paving the way for the federal government to launch a crackdown against political rivals and dissidents.
Khairy has denied such accusations but remains adamant that Youth will march separately from Bersih. Unlike Bersih which plans to deliver a memorandum with its 8 requested reforms to the King, Khairy has been hazy about UMNO Youth's rationale for marching. This has reinforced public perception that he was playing a devious game.
Apart from Khairy, Megat Firdouz, the UMNO Youth secretary, also received the death threat. Both men have declared that their Wing would proceed with their march. "Received a very disturbing text message last night about 9 July. I didn't think it would come to this. Why the threats?" Khairy said on Twitter.
Nonetheless, while condemning the threat as a cowardly act, Khairy admitted he did not know if it was meant to scare his wing into not participating, or to provoke its members into violence come July. “Could be either intention,” he said.
UMNO internal rot keeping the nation down
Indeed, that is the crux of problem facing the Najib administration. Najib cannot afford to allow the Bersih rally to proceed but a clampdown would also reap just as disastrous results. A successful rally would set off his ouster from the UMNO presidency, while a clampdown would surely galvanize fence-sitters to throw their support behind the Pakatan Rakyat in the next general elections.
"At the end of the day, Najib must make the Bersih rally fail. Low attendance would be his biggest triumph while at the same time if UMNO also gets death threats, then it will be seen that his government was neutral. They discouraged the rally but didn't clamp down and all the shenanigans are not UMNO's fault because Khairy also received death threats," Eddie Wong, a PKR stalwart told Malaysia Chronicle.
"This is how simple the UMNO brainwaves are. Somehow they never learn and always takes it for granted everyone else will be gullible and pliant. Now, I am sure Ibrahim will be the next to receive the death threats. Otherwise, the fingers will point to him and Mahathir."
He was referring told to Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, who has warned the entire country not to attend the Bersih rally or face the consequences of his ultra-Malay rights group's wrath. In particular, he targeted the Chinese, who form around 30 percent of the country's nearly 30 million population, suggesting the possibilty of ethnic cleansing in the style of the May 13, 1969, racial riots which had left hundreds dead on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Mahathir Mohamad, the former Malaysian premier, is the Perkasa patron and also be against the Bersih rally although he is also at odds with Najib over turf and the division of the 'spoils of the game' within their UMNO party.
Najib is keen to hold the 13th General Election as early as possible, but has not satisfied Mahathir, who wants to ensure that his son Mukhriz gets to sit in the PM's chair after Najib. As such, Mahathir wants the GE-13 to be held as late as possible until he sorts out terms with Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor.
Despite having 3 million members and a history of more than 50 years, UMNO is very much still a feudal party controlled by three familes - the Razak family, which is headed by Najib, the Hussein family, which is headed by Najib's cousin Hishammuddin Hussein and the Mahathir family.
Victory odds shifting to the Pakatan
The UMNO internal politicking has made it impossible to introduce much needed social and economic reform in Malaysia. Until UMNO members themselves break the stranglehold of all three families, experts hold little hope for the nation and predict bankruptcy way ahead of the 2019 deadline calculated by Najib's own minister, Idris Jala.
Meanwhile, the odds have been shifting from the BN's favour to Anwar's Pakatan. Few Malaysian believe the propaganda churned out by the BN-controlled medai anymore. Initially, many accepted that BN would retain their two-thirds majority. Then, most changed their bets and believed that BN might just hang onto the federal government by the skin of their teeth. A hung Parliament was the prediction of many experts. Now, many believe Anwar will run away with a historic victory.
The Bersih 2.0 or Walk for Democracy is a rally organized by 62 civil rights NGOs. It aims to hand over a memorandum to the King, demanding critical reforms ahead of the GE-13. The Bersih committee is made up of chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan, Andrew Khoo, K. Arumugam , Dr Farouk Musa, Haris Ibrahim, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Richard YW Yeoh, Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Yeo Yang Poh, Zaid Kamaruddin, Dr Subramaniam Pillay and Arul Prakkash.
They have denied any political links but the BN is adamant they are connected to the Pakatan Rakyat. Six of the Bersih leaders have been called up to meet the police, although not officially. For reasons of their own, the police has chosen to inform only some of them through the press.
Several days ago, Ambiga and Aliran president P Ramakrishnan received similar death threats via SMS. Both have lodged police reports.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussien has refused to grant any permits, therby making the rally illegal. By contrast, Pakatan has declared support - for the rally's anti-election fraud platform. PAS president Hadi Awang has ordered all of the party's 1 million members to attend.
Malaysian disapora are also participating in sister-rallies in 8 cities around the world in a show of solidarity for their fellow citizens and love for the future of their motherland. (scroll below for the venues of the overseas events and the 8 reforms demanded by Bersih) - Malaysia Chronicle
Related Story: Long-overdue Chinese anger erupts: Why they must vote anyone but the BN
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 3pm Venue: Malaysian High Commission, 4-1 Hannam-dong, 140-210, Seoul
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 12.00pm Venue: Malaysian Consulate in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney (simultaneous)
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 3.00pm Venue: Tower of the Sun, Osaka
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 10.00am Venue: Consulate General of Malaysia,550 South Hope Street,Suite 400, Los Angeles
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 9.30am Venue: Chrissy Field Picnic Area, Presidio, San Francisco
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 10.00am Venue: Consulate General of Malaysia, 313 East 43rd Street, New York
Malaysia Chronicle appends below the 8 reforms drawn up and demanded on behalf of Malaysians by the Bersih committee:
1. Clean the electoral roll
The electoral roll is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. The electoral roll must be revised and updated to wipe out these ‘phantom voters’. The rakyat have a right to an electoral roll that is an accurate reflection of the voting population.
In the longer term, BERSIH 2.0 also calls for the EC to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities.
2. Reform postal ballot
The current postal ballot system must be reformed to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia are able to exercise their right to vote. Postal ballot should not only be open for all Malaysian citizens living abroad, but also for those within the country who cannot be physically present in their voting constituency on polling day. Police, military and civil servants too must vote normally like other voters if not on duty on polling day.
The postal ballot system must be transparent. Party agents should be allowed to monitor the entire process of postal voting.
3. Use of indelible ink
Indelible ink must be used in all elections. It is a simple, affordable and effective solution in preventing voter fraud. In 2007, the EC decided to implement the use of indelible ink. However, in the final days leading up to the 12th General Elections, the EC decided to withdraw the use of indelible ink citing legal reasons and rumours of sabotage.
BERSIH 2.0 demands for indelible ink to be used for all the upcoming elections. Failure to do so will lead to the inevitable conclusion that there is an intention to allow voter fraud.
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
The EC should stipulate a campaign period of not less than 21 days. A longer campaign period would allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. It will also allow candidates more time to disseminate information to rural areas. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the campaign period for 12th GE in 2008 was a mere 8 days.
5. Free and fair access to media
It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.
6. Strengthen public institutions
Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.
In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.
7. Stop corruption
Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.
8. Stop dirty politics
Malaysians are tired of dirty politics that has been the main feature of the Malaysian political arena. We demand for all political parties and politicians to put an end to gutter politics. As citizens and voters, we are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.
- ENDS
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