A MP’s notes from the rally

M Manogaran talks about his experience at the Bersih 2.0 rally and warns BN-Umno that the writing is on the wall.

COMMENT

By M Manogaran
I was at Brickfields Little India at about 11.30am. Yes I wanted to participate in the Bersih 2.0 rally as I was convinced that the rally is completely legal. A group of about 150 of us (mostly Indians) started to walk from Seetharam Restaurant to the Kuala Lumpur railway station as the police started gathering in front of Seetharam Restaurant.

As we walked along, many more people joined us and by the time we reached the railway station, we numbered a couple of thousand. At the railway station we joined thousands of others and started marching towards Jalan Sultan where we were blocked by the police and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU). As we marched along, many elderly Chinese shopkeepers cheered for us. From Jalan Sultan we marched to Maybank headquarters where we were greeted by thousands of other protesters.

I was surprised to see that the people who gathered and marched came from all directions. While waiting at Maybank, police fired tear gas and we had to run to Pudu Raya. Some ran to the back road opposite Pudu Raya. We decided to walk along Pudu Road to Stadium Merdeka but were again blocked by the police. Then we realised that the police and FRU had surrounded us on both sides from Maybank headquarters to the traffic lights at Jalan Pudu/Jalan Bukit Bintang.

The FRU from Maybank began closing in on us firing tear gas until we had to take shelter at the Tung Shin Hospital.

I was among the hundreds who ran into Tung Shin Hospital as the police fired tear gas initially outside on the road in front of the hospital. To our shock the police also fired into the compound of the hospital later.

We had to close the front doors of the hospital to stop the gas from going in but we could feel the lobby was already hit with gas as well. Police barged into the compound of the hospital and arrested some protesters in a very rough manner. Many of us retreated and some walked towards Bukit Bintang.

Police brutality

I condemn the Inspector-General of Police (Ismail Omar) for not telling the truth about the tear gas fired into the hospital compound. The home minister and health minister are also being misled by the IGP. The Tung Shin Hospital administrator and other employees’ initial statements that police fired tear gas into the compound of the hospital were correct.

I also confirm that the large group who gathered in front of the hospital compound and inside the lobby were very well behaved and civil in their actions, much to my surprise. They were very quiet in the lobby. I felt the people were very disciplined thinking only of a higher cause with no mischief on their minds.
I saw how the police manhandled timid protesters. There was no reason to be rough as those arrested did not resist. I also noticed that the police were targeting Malay protesters and not so much the Chinese and Indians. Many of the protesters complained why the police were so brutal especially when we did not resist, fight back or attack them.

It is also not true that the protesters threw things at the police thereby provoking them. I am very sure that the people did not throw anything at the police. The police are blatantly lying saying the protesters threw things at them so as to justify their attack on the people. I am ashamed that the police actually misbehaved and their conduct was unprofessional. To compound matters, they are now lying.

More than 1,600 people were arrested and all were released on the same day by midnight. This is not due to the police being kind but they had a reason to release all on the same day. Under other circumstances, they will release some, detain some overnight and will obtain a remand order for the rest. This time around for Bersih 2.0, the only reason why all were released is that the police could not keep (Umno Youth chief) Khairy Jamaluddin in the lock-up overnight.

Bersih’s message

Therefore, the police had to release all to make it not so obvious as to their biased handling. Considering the fact that Bersih 2.0 created so much of panic in the government and police, if Khairy and his “Patriotic” fellows were not detained, it is unthinkable that the police will release all on the same night.
There are two very important developments I observed on July 9 regarding Bersih 2.0.

Firstly, there was a significant young Chinese representation among the protesters. I have not seen these many Chinese in the many street rallies before.

Secondly, the majority of those who participated in the rally were young Malaysians of all races. This augurs well for Malaysia as I noted that the young protesters were very organised, well behaved and mixed freely with each other. I think Bersih 2.0 has brought all Malaysians together for a common cause where they have shown that young Malaysians are ready to move on and have a stake in the country’s future.

We the Malaysian public from Bersih 2.0 and Pakatan Rakyat had a reason to march on July 9. We took part in the rally for a cause. What was the cause for Umno Youth to march on that day? Umno Youth members do not miss anything in their lives, they have everything at their disposal, so what did they march for? Are Pakatan members and Bersih 2.0 supporters less patriotic because they took part in the rally? Are Egyptians and Tunisians who went to the streets any less patriotic to their country? I think Khairy and Umno Youth have either misled themselves or cannot see the difference between subversion and ordinary citizens seeking rights.

Bersih 2.0 is a hugh success. I hope Bersih 2.0 will continue the demand for electoral reforms. With all the clampdown, adverse media reports and demonising of Bersih leaders by the government, the people rose up to tell the government a different version, that is, the people’s version. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak says the silent majority must speak up against Bersih 2.0. The prime minister, the government and Barisan Nasional can remain in denial mode. The people have spoken. The writing is on the wall for Umno-BN. You ignore it at your own peril.

M Manogaran is the DAP Member of Parliament for Teluk Intan.