The Malaysian inspector-general of police (IGP) is quoted as having said that he “will not let the pro-BN red shirts to clash with Bersih 5 (peaceful protest)” Malaysiakini, Sept 23, 2016.

A salute to the IGP for being so clear and outright with his stand who often had to put up with all kinds of brickbats from well intending but frustrated netizens in the past.

His assurance that the police “will not allow such a clash to occur” will be met with comfort as the public will now come to perceive that police will do their best in ensuring prompt action is being taken and thereby snuffing out almost instantly any otherwise ugly conflagration.

Kudos to the IGP for so wisely saying, “The Peaceful Assembly Act is a law that enables peaceful assemblies, and we are the ones that must facilitate such assemblies”.

Meanwhile, as rightly pointed out by the top cop of the nation the organisers should send in their notices “within the stipulated ten-day period” to enable the police to make preparations that will ensure the safety and security of all protesters gathering in a peaceful manner.

However, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar’s further clarification that “any gathering aimed at toppling national leaders is expressly not allowed” deserves some common sense grounding for mutual understanding.

The Nov 19 Bersih 5 rally in Kuala Lumpur is to demand for a clean government, clean election, strengthening of parliamentary democracy, empowerment of Sabah and Sarawak and the right to dissent.

Given this clarion call, there is nothing illegal, dangerous or negative about the reasons for the peaceful protest. Which country, which government, which leader, which people will not want to champion such noble and democratic principles that can only bring progress, peace and prosperity to all stakeholders?

But when the IGOP keeps alluding to “topple the national leadership” we need to debate for common sense to prevail.

Foremost, how do you stand up for all those cardinal values and principles that guarantee a progressive nation?

Surely, in wanting to express your desires for something better it is quite universally accepted that one would have to make comparisons or reference to that which is and that which should be.

So if at the Bersih 5, the people gather to peacefully register all their going concerns and if it inevitably ends up questioning the actions and inactions of those who were given the mandate to meet the higher standards of nationhood, is that tantamount to toppling national leadership?

It is certainly not. In all earnestness of human aspiration, it may in all likelihood offer the leader/s in question that unique opportunity to respond in the affirmative, do the right thing and become even more liked than before, right?

Actually strengthening the current leadership

So Bersih 5, if taken proactively, would instead of toppling actually strengthen the current leadership - provided of course the clarion calls are addressed to the satisfaction of the citizens demanding for peace, progress and prosperity.

Even if the peaceful protest demanded for the resignation of the current leadership, that is not toppling. To topple you need something like Arab Spring or some violent aggression as we witness in other parts of the world.

In fact, the IGP has everything to thank for here. Our police do not have to face mobs that go berserk as we read of in other parts of the world including some Muslim nations.

Malaysians are very law abiding. They are sensible. They have as in all past Bersih rallies shown how they operate within the law - though you cannot say the same for the red shirts. And mind you, even the few who were hauled up by the police were freed by the court. The ‘yellow balloon’ for example.

In fact, as the vanguard of law and order, our police are entrusted in ensuring that public peace is maintained. The world would not have subscribed to laws that guarantee the right to peaceful protest if there was no wisdom in such assemblies of people.

Questioning whether the leadership will be toppled is like putting the cart before the horse. It goes nowhere. Further, the police allegiance is to national security, public safety and peace, law and order; not politically getting stuck in a web of what appears to be like having to protect certain quarters by any means.

As Georg WF Hegel the German philosopher held, our IGP, too, will appreciate that history is dialectical. It does not remain static but undergoes constant revisions.

Yes IGP, “every idea, every ideology, every paradigm and every institution has a beginning and will also have an end. The way this happens in practice is by a new idea (a counter thesis) arising to challenge the current idea (the thesis). This results in a period of struggle between the opposing ideas before a resolution is reached (the synthesis)”.

So if the current leadership responds or even exceeds the demands of Bersih which is nothing short of wanting a greater nation, the issue of toppling does not arise at all. Conversely, if Najib Abdul Razak feels the heat is too much and he does not have the means and the will to make the nation even more better than what he thinks is enough, he could very well step aside and let another succeed him. And here, too, there is no toppling.