After Bersih clampdown, Anwar tells youth to fight for freedom

Anwar speaking to the professionals at the session July 10 2011. — Picture by Shannon Teoh

PETALING JAYA, July 10 — Just a day after the Bersih rally which saw nearly 1,500 arrests, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told a room of young professionals here to hold firmly to their ideals and opinions.

The opposition leader shook off injuries suffered in yesterday’s mass rally to speak to about 100 youths here, capitalising on the clampdown that saw police fire tear gas and water cannons at tens of thousands of demonstrators.

“When we talk about the revolt of the masses, it doesn’t mean a physical revolt but a germination of ideas. The public must be given such a space.

“The strength of youth is not their age but their ambition and idealism. I invite you all, in direct, quiet or hidden ways to ensure a change happens,” said the PKR de facto leader who appeared in a neck brace.

He added in the hour-long dialogue session that it was the responsibility of leaders to give the young opportunities to voice out.

“Scholars allow for a difference of opinion and disagreements in a civil manner. In what democratic system do we allow oppression and the stripping on people?” he said.

The former deputy prime minister also attacked the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, which refused to issue a permit for Bersih to gather in Kuala Lumpur, for producing yes-men.

“In Umno, they kiss everyone’s hand. In MCA, before you finish speaking, they will say they support you. In MIC, before you start speaking they will say they are fully behind you,” the former Umno deputy president said.

Yesterday’s rally by the electoral reforms movement went ahead despite the government’s refusal to allow the coalition of 62 NGOs to meet in Stadium Merdeka.

Bersih had chosen the historical venue after it accepted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s offer to move its street rally to a stadium.

However, both Putrajaya and the police told the movement that was outlawed last week to move its demonstration outside the capital.

Police began its clampdown on the movement since the beginning of July, arresting hundreds, confiscating Bersih-related material and remanding six under the Emergency Ordinance.

Roadblocks set up around the city saw Kuala Lumpur reduced to a ghost town on Friday night before it descended into chaos on Saturday as tens of thousands clashed with police on the streets of the capital.