The lines are finally drawn

A lot of people will say that this is a last resort action to deter Malaysians from participating in the forthcoming rally. Many more will say that this is done to justify the eventual mass arrests on the streets come Sunday the 9th, especially when the foreign press are looking and reporting about it. Could the real reason be that the government is using this rally as a line marker?

By tekak mendalam

The government is not dim-witted when they decided to outlaw BERSIH as much thought must have been placed into making this drastic decision. This is not the militant Hindraf demanding cash compensation but an independent election watchdog organization.

A lot of people will say that this is a last resort action to deter Malaysians from participating in the forthcoming rally. Many more will say that this is done to justify the eventual mass arrests on the streets come Sunday the 9th, especially when the foreign press are looking and reporting about it. Could the real reason be that the government is using this rally as a line marker?

In the weeks leading up to this rally, the local media have been coerced to label those involved in this rally as communists and outlaws. Additionally, many reports were published in the mass media whereby the pro-Ketuanan Melayu factions are signifying this assembly as a rallying point for non-Bumiputras to take over the country, ignoring the fact that many of the Rakyat supporting this rally are Bumiputras themselves. 513 is once again touted and Kerismuddin is now hard at work polishing his crooked shaft for his much-repeated performance again. Could these pro-Ketuanan Melayu factions be under direct instructions from the Fourth Floor to reignite race politics, as the remaining option, in face of the forthcoming general elections?

The possibility of Pakatan Rakyat forming the next federal government is very real and BN knows it. Kelantan, Penang, Selangor and Kedah are all almost a shoo-in. So is Perak after the last BN debacle there as Perakians do have long memories. Perlis, Terengganu, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan are half chances as the registered voters there would have known that they possess a viable option now (as proven in 2008). Only Johor and Pahang remain as the last BN strongholds in West Malaysia. Is BN running scared? Will MCA and MIC be following the footsteps of PPP? Bet on it.

BERSIH is a rally for fair elections whereby a candidate wins at the polls because the voters voted him in and not because of phantom voters, missing poll boxes, postal votes or setting up a military camp there. For a standing government to be hostile against it means that they are against fair elections and why would a political party be against it unless they had retained power through unfair methods? Permit me to rephrase that, “A standing government that utilizes its authority and power to ensure success at the polls through illegal means and manipulation will definitely be against fair elections”. It is the terror of
losing this power to the Opposition that makes them utilize all resources to ensure that they retain power.

Additionally, it is also the fear of being investigated and eventually charged for past crimes and corruption should they lose at the polls that these people are going all out to prevent the Opposition from taking over, and by whatever means at their disposal and regardless of the consequences. Retaining power remains the one and only priority.

If you look at the Opposition party, you will become aware that they are very quiet at this stage in time when the rally is only a week away. They led the last BERSIH rally hand-in- hand in the frontlines. What about BERSIH 2.0? The reason might be instilled in the fact that the federal elections are around the corner and automatic disqualification for being arrested will not do them any favor since Simpang Renggang or Kamunting are far from their constituencies. Pakatan candidates will henceforth not do BN a favor by participating and hence precipitating a Mamak II as in 1987 aka Ops Lalang.

The government is even scared shitless as this rally is eventually and ultimately led by the common Rakyat, regardless of race, creed and religion, and not the Opposition politicians. It substantiate that their traditional “tried and tested” official party policy of separating the voters into race camps are no longer functioning well and this could spell a losing proposition in the next general elections, a risk they are not willing to partake in, and consequently the sledgehammer. By depicting this rally as an overt action instigated by the communists and outlaws, they are once again trying to separate the Malaysians, as their rigid “divide and conquer” mentality comes into play assisted by the 14th BN coalition member who will use the Emergency Ordinance (EO) to make mass arrests – a less complicated process as making arrests under the ISA would require the Home Minister to sign all the warrants (and he can’t bloody well put down his crooked shaft, right?).

The question now is whether the rally will go on (or not) but the damage is already done. Either way, BN will lose something here but permitting the BERSIH rally to happen might prove to be the lesser damage in the next general elections. However, who am I to tell them otherwise? Maybe the Agong can…