HISTORIC RALLY: Crowd size exceeds Bersih 3.0, it may be too late for Umno-BN!

As we chronice today's watershed HKR#KL112 rally, Stadium Merdeka is cool and windy, its football pitch a flag of green serenity that would later disappear, replaced by a sea of colorfully-dressed Malaysians eager to gather, congregate, participate and make their voices heard over a host of national issues.

Yes, the Chronicle team managed to sneak in for an early preview. But no, we weren't able to get a headstart on the other news teams because that was not our purpose. We wanted to enjoy the 'show' so to speak and immerse ourselves in the spirit and mood of the crowd.

Moreover, not having access to Wifi didn't help and even now, the broadband reception is not so stable. So while we will try our best to cover this landmark event 'live', we may find ourselves shut off due to poor techology, or as some have warned - "they will jam the signals!" Please bear with us and forgive our glitches.

'Tukar kerajaan'

Stadium Merdeka is not historic' without reason. It is rather shabby but despite its obvious wear-and-tear it is clean. Somehow, no other place seems capable of being able to encapsulate the feeling of overbrimming good cheer all around the vicinity of this venue today. And despite the care taken by authorities to let slip the information the stadium has a capacity of only 30,000, it can actually accomodate between 80,000 to 100,000. It is understandable that Prime Minister Najib razak and his Umno party would want to play down the number, but those who came will know and distrust the BN government and their media even more.

Today, between 300,000 to 500,000 Malaysians from all walks of life - young and old, men and women, boys and girls - wanted to 'enjoy' themselves. They wanted to show they have a stake in this country - in this globe. They wanted to show they are aware of the issues at stake in Malaysia. They wanted their government - whether it is the incumbent BN government or the PR government-in-waiting - to hear them and do something about their demands and grouses.

And today, they hit bulls-eye with the sheer strength of their presence. If Najib and the Umno-BN coalition choose to make light of it, they have only themselves to blame if they are shown the door in the coming general election.

As we have been saying this is a new Malaysia we are seeing. And this why we decided to cover the event on the ground. As I write this, I am seated in the Stadium on a bench shared with dozens of others, with my laptop really on my lap and the power cord connected to a plug in a nearby wall.

In front of me are a sea of determined-looking faces. They are fanning themselves and chatting but this is no frivolous day. I asked the guy sitting across me why he came and he told me "Tukar kerajaan" and showed me a clenched fist! But with a grinning face and smiling eyes. This crowd is really out to make a stand - albeit a peaceful and friendly one.

3.00pm to 5.00pm  Crowd size exceeds Bersih 3.0's 250,000

By now it is clear, the crowd size has exceeded the BERSIH 3.0's 250,000. In the stadium, its vicinity and throughout the 8 meeting points, seasoned media people and camera crew plus the activists themselves estimate a crowd size of nearly 500,000!

"This is a real eye-opener for Prime Minister Najib Razak. Today, the people have made it clear what they want and don't want.  If Najib and Umno strongmen like Mahathir Mohamad still refuse to admit their wrongdoings and change their ways, it is the end for them at GE-13. Frankly speaking - judging from the mood and size of the crowd - I think it may be too late for Umno-BN to pull themselves out from their mess," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

2.00pm to 3.00pm  Anwar tells crowd time has come to change government

The crowd begins to chant Reformasi Reformasi Reformasi as they wait for Anwar to take his turn at the mike. They were not disappointed. A vibrant and smiling Anwar had the crowd immediately on his side when he told them the time for change had come. His words were greeted with anti-Umno shouts. In his speech emailed to the press, Anwar said:

"Today's peaceful gathering in Kuala Lumpur, and around other venues in the country and abroad, is to show so many of us stand together, with one voice, a voice of change.

Whether to reform elections, provide free elections, to halt Lynas or to defend Felda families.

We want a free and fair elections. You have a vote and I have a vote.  No one should steal our votes. We shall work to defend our votes and will not allow anyone to mock our votes. KL112 says, reform elections now.

Our children are the future, and guaranteeing free education to all Anak Malaysia is a responsibility, not a means to place debt on the young. KL112 says, free education is a right.

Business cannot outweigh environmental safety, which is why protecting the safety of the people of Kuantan cannot be an afterthought. KL112 says, No to Lynas.

Planters and their families are not commodities to be traded as seen in the forced-through public listing of Felda and the financial consequences these people are facing today. KL112 says, decide what’s right for the planters not what is profitable to a small group feeding on the weak.

Today, in Kuala Lumpur’s peaceful assembly and in peaceful assemblies everywhere else, the message is clear, that government cannot be about ignoring the voices of the people.

You, who have showed up are key to the struggle."

12.30pm to 2.00pm  Negara-ku is sung, rally begins

The arrival of the various heads of NGOs and Paktan Rakyat chiefs especially Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim drew huge applause from the crowd. Within the stadium and its carpark are already more than 50,000 people. Tens of thousands are at other key meeting points, waiting for their turn to start moving to the final destination.

At 2.00pm the national anthem is sung with gusto by the crowd. PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar starts the ball rolling with a rousing speech, followed by DAP's Anthony Loke and Kasthuri Patto. It wouldn't have matter what they said in their speeches, the crowd was only to happy to lap it up and cheer. Horns and vuvuzelas filled the background, more often than not drowning out the voices of the speakers.

1.30am to 12.30pm  Gates to Stadium open: Masuk perlahan-lahan

At 12.00 noon, the organizers boomed through the loudspeakers they were opening the gates of the Stadium to the tens of thousands already milling in the compound and snaking all the way through Jalan Sultan, Pasar Seni, Brickfields and the national mosque. "Sila masuk perlahan-lahan. Sila masuk perlahan-lahan". In less than 10 minutes, the stadium was already half-full. And tens of thousands more are yet to arrive.

Over at Masjid Negara, one of the meeting places enroute to the Stadium, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is giving a speech to the crowd. He is telling them to be patient but the group of at least 15,000 are eager to get going. They will surely be disappointed to hear the Stadium will be full when they arrive but that may not stop them. It seems that everyone just wants to go to the Stadium, to get a chance to get in when others leave.

7.30am to 11.30am  'Monster' crowd builds up

From as early as 7.30am, which was the time Alaa Soleiman, Nawawi Mohamad and I began our trip to nearby Chinatown where Alaa delayed us all by insisting on guzzling down a third helping of a very good breakfast buffet, there were groups of people also making their way to the Stadium.

Make no mistake, a "monster" crowd is building up and even if it does not hit the ambitions 1 million target set by the organizers, we should see at least several hundred thousands of Malaysians stretching their legs and exercising their vocal chords today. Just like the Bersih 1, 2 and 3, as well as the anti-Lynas rallies in Kuantan, the #KL112 gathering looks set to be another eye-opener for Prime Minister Najib Razak's government.

And like it or not, it is a bellwether for which way the people will vote come the 13th general election. BN may still scrape through and cling onto the federal government but the chances are now higher that the Pakatan Rakyat led by Anwar Ibrahim will win.

Happy faces amongst KL crowd

At all 8 dedicated meeting places including Amcorp Mall, Masjid Jamek and KLCC, the crowds of people were dressed in Bersih yellow, the anti-Lynas green and many waved the Kelantan flag to show support for the oil-royalty movement. Smiling and chattering, they made a royal din with their vuvuzelas and horns, waving banners and cheering each other on. We asked them why they were so happy? They asked us back, "why? cannot, ah?

Some of them asked if we were from the press and asked us to take photos of them. Police were out in full force but seemed very friendly. Inside the Stadium, a high ranking officer spoke with the rally organizers and prominent activist Hishammuddin Rais, who looked very smart in his trademark pony-tail and a dark coat. They were briefed on the day's programme which will begin at 2 and end at 5pm.

Yes, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim will be there and so will DAP's Lim Kit Siang and PAS' Hadi Awang. All three men are bound to stop the show when they arrive for they represent the hope of a nation fidgeting for a change in leadership, a change in direction after 55 years of rule by a corruption-riddled and not competent BN.

So far, Nawawi has reported some unusual incidents at the Pasar Seni meeting place. He saw a group of Rela officers "throwing their weight around and asking for identification". He also came across a group of men taking off their shirts, revealing yellow Bersih tees underneath, and suspects these could be plainsclothes policemen going undercover to mingle with the crowd. However, as long as the motive is to protect the people, that's fine. Otherwise, we'll know soon enough when the police beatings ala Bersih 3.0 begin!

Malaysia Chronicle