April 24, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 – The tussle over the Bersih 3.0 sit-in rally this weekend reflects conflicting opinions in Putrajaya to show its liberal side to win support in the next general elections but also to remain firm against demands from civil society, government insiders say.
The electoral reforms coalition is sticking to using the historic Dataran Merdeka in the capital city despite Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the police denying them permission for the rally, saying it should be held elsewhere.
The Malaysian Stadium Corporation has offered the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (picture) said last week the Bersih 3.0 rally has no traction among the people unlike the previous rally last July 9 where thousands of people garbed in yellow turned up despite police locking down the capital city.
The senior minister also said Bersih 3.0 sit-in will be allowed but the venue would be up to the local authorities.
“The government is liberal enough to allow the rally but it also has to show no weakness. So it wants to decide the venue,” a government source told The Malaysian Insider.
He pointed out that City Hall’s treatment of the Occupy Dataran activists reflects the liberal and hardline wings of the government.
CIty Hall returned tents it had confiscated over the weekend but it kicked out the activists early today, saying there are bye-laws that govern usage of the square where the Union Jack was lowered on the midnight of August 31, 1957 when then Malaya gained independence.
“Some say its fine but there are those who insist Putrajaya must show that it is in charge of the country. Its a message to supporters that Putrajaya is not weak,” said the source.
Another source pointed out that the current indecision over the Bersih 3.0 rally is similar to the situation before Bersih 2.0 when the government went back on its offer of a stadium for the rally. “The hardliners have won again. They can concede to a rally but on their terms,” he said.
Bersih said today it will consider calling off Saturday’s rally if Datuk Seri Najib Razak can guarantee the electoral reform movement’s demands are met before the next federal polls.
“If they promise to delay the elections and implement the changes that we want, and must have, to have a clean 13th general election, there is no issue and there is no rush. Postponing it (the elections) is not enough. There has to be a guarantee that the demands of Bersih will be met before 13th GE.
“I’d like to hear that guarantee actually. If there is a guarantee by the government, we will certainly reconsider, yes,” Bersih co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said.
The movement said early this month a third rally was necessary to warn Malaysians that the country is about to face its “dirtiest” polls to date.
The coalition said it was disappointed by the recently concluded Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, saying that despite Putrajaya’s repeated assurances and promises, the panel had failed to introduce meaningful reforms to the election system.
The bipartisan panel was formed following the July 9, 2011 rally for free and fair elections which saw tens of thousands flood into the streets of the capital.
Najib’s administration was widely condemned for a clampdown on the demonstration where police fired water cannons and tear gas into crowds in chaotic scenes which resulted in over 1,500 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier.
Bersih’s eight demands are a clean electoral roll, reforming postal voting, the use of indelible ink, a minimum campaign period of 21 days, free access to the media, strengthening public institutions, stopping corruption and ending dirty politics.
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