BERSIH: Assessing achievements.

by drrafick

• Within hours after my last post, someone asked me if I have a magical crystal ball because after writing there was a dramatic change of events related to the BERSIH walk. I gave a simple answer i.e. some things are better keep under wrap. Personally if we look at the big picture, we could see that BERSIH has achieved its “unwritten” objectives. Most of the unwritten objectives were worn because of the poor actions of BN and its “NGO’s” which made them lose. Like a game of chess, BN loss so many pieces because of stupid moves and not because they concurred the board. What did they lose?
  
  • The Bersih walk prompted UMNO to unleash PERKASA, UMNO Youth, “independents” and several other instant noodle NGO’s. They showed their tyranny and their ugly side where they made clear of their intent to create trouble. I listened to UMNO youth plan where they talks about insertion and create trouble from within while the WALK takes place. In Penang, they demonstrated their worse. This makes ordinary people fed up of BN especially UMNO. Ali Rustam even brought up the possibility of defending the nation using 4 mill silat exponents. Defending the nation? Against what? Against whom?
    

  • Many people that I talked to was pissed when almost 15 minutes of primetime news on all government control channel demonized BERSIH and manipulated the intent. They came out with low cost (and quality) advertisement to attack the walk. People saw how BN was abusing government machinery to ensure the survival of their political cause.
    
  • The use of the RMP and the “creation of threats” that led to arrest of many politicians and members of the public showed that BN was a draconian political party that is willing to do all it can to protect its turf. This includes questionable legal basis. At the time when the government is expected to behave as a professional government, it failed to do so.
    

• BERSIH (indirectly PR) hasn’t even walked and they have won the heart and minds of hundreds of thousands of people. If they called off the walk and gave a good reason, they will win the heart of millions. They showed their maturity and ability to handle situation. I have only one thing to say those who advice Najib on their actions in the last few weeks. BODOH! I would have done it differently and made Najib looks good. I feel sorry for Najib for having such “dungus” around him.
  

• As for the government machinery, it is very clear that the government servant was too scared to do the right thing and challenge their political masters. I suspect many were protecting their personal interest because there is no cohesion among the top brass in handling the issue. They were following what was dictated to them. Some good examples are the religious authorities in BN controlled states, the RMP and the government media. In this aspect, Tun Daim explains it well.