Deputy minister: BN must communicate better after Bersih 2.0

By Syed Mu’az Syed Putra

July 13, 2011

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said today that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak risks suffering a political backlash from the July 9 rally. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Barisan Nasional (BN) needs to improve its “political communication” if it wants to regain electoral support in the aftermath of Bersih 2.0, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah has said.

The outspoken BN deputy minister, who has criticised his administration for failing to discuss terms with the outlawed group before the rally, warned that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would suffer a political backlash from the July 9 rally.

The Umno supreme council member, however, stressed that he did not support Bersih or any of its electoral reform demands, but was disappointed with the attacks against the group.

“I do not support Bersih and its rally. But I also do not agree with the rude remarks that have been thrown at Bersih ... this is because I am a proponent of healthy and active politics.

“I want us to improve freedom of speech in this country ... BN needs to utilise a better form of political communication because the Bersih rally has left its mark,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

The Temerloh MP was attacked both on Twitter and in pro-Umno blogs recently for his strident views.

“I am pushing for a new form of political thinking made up of four elements ... political integrity, a new governmental framework, democratic innovation and progressive political thinking.

“I understand what Bersih is saying ... it does not mean I support them. Even if I agree with one of their demands, it does not mean I support them,” stressed Saifuddin.

Umno-controlled media, such as Utusan Malaysia, and some BN leaders have continued to blame the opposition for what they say are biased news reports, especially from the foreign media, that paint the government in a bad light.

Bersih went ahead with Saturday’s rally despite being denied police permission, plunging parts of Kuala Lumpur into chaos and resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of a PKR division leader’s husband.

The coalition of 62 NGOs had earlier agreed to an offer by Najib to move its street gathering to a stadium but was then told by authorities not to gather in the capital, ruling out its choice of the historical Stadium Merdeka.

The breakdown in negotiations came despite the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s intervention six days before the rally. The King had sought to defuse tension by asking Putrajaya and Bersih to discuss the issue of free and fair elections.