COMMENT As you read this, the beats of a distant drum gathers strength, its staccato the crucible of a latent storm, over half a century in the making.

It is a yellow storm, the not so faraway rumblings of Bersih 3.0.

It starts with booted footfalls of stern authority, the hammering tools of a faceless state, as barricades and barbed wire fencing ring a hallowed and iconic patch of ground.

A place whose sum total weighs more than just the facade of wood, metal and stone that shape its monuments.

A square that stands testament to the struggle and spirit of our forefathers, who paved the road to our Medeka.

While symbolic upon its lofty flagpole soars the aspirations of generations, the hopes and dreams of those now, in the past and yet unborn.

Rising against the barricades are the steady cadence of numberless feet, the rhythmic chants of multitudes converging, those there, as well as ones of like mind and spirit.

The need-appointed janitors of a clogged system, whose purging is long awaiting.

The selfless creed of men and women for whom intimidation and arrests hold no more due.

"Bersih! Bersih! Bersih!" they chant, resounding across our shores, and distant lands across the seas.

Paid hands hack anonymous keyboards

Yet paid hands hack anonymous keyboards while shackled news media turn their faces, or worse, spin webs of deceit to stem the flow of news their masters can't control.

But thousands of lenses stared, both of the natural eye and its digital brethren.

As the message crossed barriers both physical and digital.

To be told and retold, from hushed mouths to eager ears, disembodied voices across impatient airwaves, to urgent writings on page and screen.

Barbed wire or no, digital blindfold or veiled threats, they are there regardless, their tale will be told and their message will be heard.

It is not against our culture to gather and express our concerns, as some have been accusing.

Indeed it is the basis of our Merdeka and the core of our unity, as the many races stood as one Bangsa Malaysia for independence then.

So does the rakyat stand today, hand in hand to ask for better governance and clean and fair elections.

The history of Umno itself was built upon such self same gatherings, the same banner waving street protests that an Umno minister is now decrying.

Indeed, it was the massive display of the rakyat gathering that saved the sovereignty of our royalty from MacMicheal's Malayan Union.

Not only is it our culture, it is the very essence of Merdeka, the ability to speak out and decide for ourselves the future of our country.

Malaysia's destiny does not lie in the hands of those to whom we lent the reins of power. It is decided in the aspirations of the rakyat.

Far from being the fly in the soup or opposition trick that the BN-led government is alleging, Bersih is the voice that speaks in the rakyat's name, by and for the rakyat.

And so we hope that the powers that be will listen and take heed, as they are supposed to be accountable to the rakyat, not the other way around.