your say 'Just because you don't have the people taking to the streets peacefully for you doesn't mean you are entitled to stop anyone else from doing so.'

Najib: Bersih ploy to stop BN 'momentum'

Quigonbond: If BN is truly enjoying the momentum and the so-called ‘analysts' (these days a dime in a dozen) think BN is on the right track, then I suppose everything is sunshine and sea for BN.

In that case, what's wrong with giving the civil society a bit more space to express themselves? We're living in a democracy, aren't we? It's not like Bersih is advocating a violent overthrow of the government. They're just talking about free and fair elections.

If BN could muster 10 million people to its rally, why not? Go ahead and do it. Just because you don't have that kind of populace taking to the streets peacefully for you doesn't mean you are entitled to stop anyone else from doing so.

That's just a big bully mentality - false bravados on the outside, coward on the inside.

Julien Benda: "They resolved that if they want to stop us, this is how they can wrest back the political momentum," says PM Najib Abdul Razak.

This is simply delusional. The reason why the government thinks it has to try to ‘shut down' the Bersih rally by any and all means available, is simply because ground-level popular currents are running strongly against BN, and they know it. To believe otherwise is to be self-absorbed and deluded.

If you look at what Utusan Malaysia , the PM and DPM Muhyiddin Yassin are saying, the strategy is clear. They are now pleading "legitimate self-defence" in advance of the event, not after, to justify and excuse the violence and mayhem that, with clear and precisely calculated purpose, they are generating, instigating and unleashing.

For them, the Perkasa ‘insurgency' is fine, even though it is pursuing the worst kind of ‘blood and soil' ethno-nationalist intimidation and violence. Yet, Bersih, which just wants today's version of what the Chartists called for in the 1840s, is to be denied, demonised, punished, and held responsible for the violence that is being prepared, and is to be used, against it.

This is a very ugly and dirty game. Those who oppose Bersih should be ‘up-front' and call themselves Kotor for ‘konco-konco orang takut otonomi rakyat' (cronies of those who fear the rakyat will act independently).

So, if there is to be an anti-Bersih movement, let it be called ‘Kotor' and let ‘Awang Selamat' of Utusan be its head, the Ketua Kotor. Or if he prefers Ibrahim Ali's more para-military style nomenclature, he can be ‘PPK', Panglima Perang Kotor, the Dirty War commander/general.

Good Men: The cheating at each election gets worse - the abuse of government machinery/funds, blatant bribery ala "you help me I help you", a lying, lopsided media, no space for opposition's voice in mainstream media, postal vote-rigging, gerrymandering of constituencies that overweight BN areas and under represent urban areas, illegal immigrants being given MyKads to vote in Sabah, the list goes on.

And Najib has been part of this set-up nearly all his adult life. His so-called transformation programmes are all eyewash. If you want to believe what he says then you really do deserve what's coming to you if BN stay in power.

KSN: Come on Najib, be serious for once. If BN has regained momentum, then allowing Bersih's peaceful rally will further strengthen that momentum, won't it not, by allowing people to assemble peacefully, which is their constitutional right?

Why not allow that, if you are convinced about what you said? On the contrary, Umno/BN is at its wits end from fear of a thrashing in the coming general election.

Anonymous: Listening to Najib, I have the feeling that he is not one who would willingly let go of power, even if the people rejects BN.

For the time being, he will play the nice guy. His obsession to defend Putrajaya 'at all cost' implies that in addition to Umno's survival, perhaps more importantly, his own personal interest is at stake.

Freemsia: "The power is in the hands of the rakyat, it is not in the streets (demonstrations)," said BN chief Najib.

How is the power truly in the hands of the rakyat when the EC closes one eye when money is given out for votes, the unfair mainstream media, etc? And Bersih have been discussing with the EC to make changes and nothing much have happened.

This demonstration is a way for the rakyat (who have been taken for a ride) to show their discontent.

Multi Racial: What BN momentum? You must be kidding yourself to believe this. Even with Election Commission help and unfair ruling, Pakatan is gaining more votes. That is the fact.

As a result of this, BN particularly Umno is afraid that there is a real chance they may lose the election this time. Instead of doing something positive to win back the rakyat, BN choose to do the reverse.

They better be prepared to apply for full-time jobs or retire for good as Malaysians are going to vote for a clean and honest government.

Bender: The PM is utterly hopeless. How can he invite Bersih to fight BN in an election? Doesn't he know what Bersih is? I'm no PM and I'm not a politician either, but I know Bersih is not a political party. Bersih only ask for a clean election, not to compete in one.

Besides, with all the filth in the current election process, who in their right mind would want to contest in one? It's like you ask someone to take a bath in a pool of cow manure.

And not again with the ‘havoc' argument. What havoc? Peace rally is not havoc. Peace means peace, not havoc. Mr PM, go and read a little about what democracy is. Maybe then you'll understand that there is nothing wrong with demonstrations.

Tholu: Najib in asking Bersih to contest in the elections is akin to asking a referee in a wrestling or boxing match to join in the fighting. A referee is only there to ensure that the match is fought in all fair and clean manner.

 

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .