“709” will go down in Malaysian history as the day of
empowerment of the real 1Malaysia – where all races and religions came
together to demand a “Clean Malaysia”, not just for clean elections but
also in the political system and all aspects of national governance.
The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak coined the 1Malaysia slogan
on taking office in April 2009 but it has been pure gimmicry in the
past two years and three months – reduced to 1Malaysia T-shirt
1Malaysia Tupperware circus.
But it was yesterday that Malaysians of all races and religions who
gave true meaning to a 1Malaysia by coming out in tens of thousands in
the federal capital to support Bersih’s call for free, fair and clean
elections. This is something Najib can never understand.
In 1981 a new Prime Minister launched a national slogan of Bersih
Cekap Amanah. But 30 years down the road, abuses of power and greed have
so corrupted the system of governance that the national government is
afflicted with a terminal bout of Bersih-phobia with “Bersih” regarded
as so dirty, criminal and subversive a word that it is a justification
for police arrest on sight and the heavy-handed suppression of the
peaceful Bersih 2.0 rally for Merdeka Stadium yesterday. On top of
Bersih-phobia, there is also xanthophobia – fear of yellow!
The violent and brutal police conduct yesterday, resulting in the
death of Baharuddin Ahmad, a martyr for justice and fair play in
Malaysia; the mass arrests of over 1,400 people; the wanton and criminal
firing of tear gas such as into the Tung Shin Hospital and the KL
Sentral tunnel aimed directly at Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat leaders
violate all principles of democratic policing where the police should
protect the human rights of the people.
The 2005 Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission recommended three core
functions for an efficient, professional world-class police service – to
reduce crime, to eradicate corruption and to uphold human rights.
Yesterday, the police did not uphold human rights but suppressed human
rights!
There must be a total revamp of the mission of the Malaysian police
to ensure that it abandon the regime policing of colonial times to abide
by the principles of democratic policing to vindicate and protect the
human rights of all Malaysians.
A Clean Malaysia not just for elections, but for the political system
and all aspects of national governance is now the rallying cry for all
Malaysians who want to see real change and transformation in the
country.
The high-handed and repressive actions of the Barisan Nasional
government has reduced the choice of Malaysians to very simple terms –
whether they are for a Malaysia which is Bersih or Not Bersih!
* Media Statement when visiting Tung Shin Hospital Kuala Lumpur
(Police fired tear gas into Tung Shin Hospital during Bersih 2.0 rally
yesterday)
No comments:
Post a Comment