your say Agong slows gallop to the precipice

Anonymous: All sides should show their good faith, in accordance with the call by the Agong. Bersih, I believe, will be ready to postpone its rally and be prepared to sit down for a meaningful discussion to arrive at a solid improvement in election procedures.

But, first off, the authorities must release all persons under detention relating to their campaign of intimidation. Unconditionally drop all charges and pay reasonable compensation for the detentions.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein must retract his charge that Bersih is an illegal entity. The pow-wow is between Bersih and the Election Commission (EC) only. They will come up with agreed amendments to the rules and procedures within a strictly stipulated period. No election should be held before these new rules are implemented.

Once and for all, let us have a clean, fair and transparent general election.

Jefferson76: I don't expect the government to play fair. It will use this situation to its advantage. The government hasn't shown decorum or diplomacy for a very long time. It may be that this avenue must be exhausted and shown to be the false hope that it is before we can march forward in our quest for free and fair elections.

Loyal Malaysian: Yes, Terrence, the brakes have been applied. Yes, all must come to some form of compromise.

But the onus is on the Umnoputras. Let's not pull punches. This means the EC and the police as well. From day one, Bersih 2.0 has been planned as a peaceful walk to demand electoral reforms.

All the tensions, bullying and intimidations have emanated from the Umnoputras' side - just look at the arbitrary arrests and the use of the Emergency Ordinance on Bersih activists.

2cts worth: This is wisdom from the Agong, but will Umno take the heed? Thus far, the handling of critical situations indicates a lack of forethought. Similarly, Terence Netto's hope of the release of the opposition detainees to cool the steam is a false one. Umno's ketuanan obnoxious arrogance will not permit it. Releasing the detainees will be a loss of face for these Umnoputras.

Swipenter: A proposed peaceful march by Malaysians for clean and fair elections has been demonised by Umno, Perkasa, Utusan Malaysia and the police as evil, communist-inspired and an attempt by foreigners to interfere in our internal affairs. It will not succeed because we all know it is not true. Bersih 1.0 was peaceful and disciplined, communism is dead and foreign interference is a big joke.

If there are no genuine reforms, the Bersih movement will never go away.

However, judging from how the Umno government has been reacting to Bersih 2.0, chances are that there will only be cosmetic changes to election rules because a clean, fair and impartial EC will cost Umno/BN dearly, and maybe even Putrajaya.

If Bersih 2.0 is not going to materialise, we Malaysians still have the trump card. That is to vote Umno/BN out this coming general election.

Bersih seeks audience with Agong, may put off rally

KSN: Ambiga Sreenevasan, you will no doubt remind His Majesty that the Election Commission members are appointed by him and are supposed to act independently, so he should direct them to act independently.

You should also tell him that the demands of Bersih for free and fair elections are reasonable demands so that voters can determine who will govern this country, those elected in fair elections, without any room to cheat the voters' choice and so that the cheats with the complicity of the EC can become the government illegally.

On those terms you should agree to postpone the march.

Artchan: The King must respect the people's right to walk and freedom of assembly. The King should advise the PM Najib Razak to arrest all the racists who have threatened violence, such as Perkasa, Umno Youth and the Silat groups that threatened Bersih.

Multi Racial: We hope the rulers will take this opportunity to be neutral and put themselves above politics and be respected by the rakyat. It is important for the rulers to understand that Bersih is not a political party. Bersih is not representing Pakatan Rakyat nor BN.

Bersih is supported by rakyat Malaysia. It is the people's wish that the march be conducted as planned and the King should direct the police to chart a route for Bersih supporters to conduct their constitutional right to demonstrate. The police must protect the people involved in the march as it is done with good intention and to give a brighter future for the country. All the rulers have to be united and present themselves as fair and put the rakyat's interests above all. The rakyat want free and fair elections.

Pakman : The Agong does not treat Bersih as an illegal body, but in fact recognises it as representative of the rakyat, and has decreed that Bersih, the government and EC come to the roundtable to thrash out any outstanding disputes and come out with a win-win situation for all parties involved.

No issue, however difficult or grave, cannot be resolved if all parties have the good intention and honesty to reach an amicable decision.

 

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