A taxi driver in whose taxi I was in on Monday told me that the May 12 picket would be called off. The gentleman said this with confidence because of his time with Zainal Rampak and Rajasekaran. He gave all this up to become his own man, he says, by driving a taxi.

Such prediction of leaders becomes commonplace when it comes to several institutions in our country. But labour? This is very sad.

I have decided for quite a while now that I would no longer be just a spectator of peoples' protests. I am a spectator exercising my right to assemble and associate with those whose interests and concerns I share.

This is the trouble if we continue to have 'traditional-type leadership' in any of our movements. What we need to do now is to form quick coalitions for causes. Sometimes the 'normal-type' coalitions or associations become too fossilised in rules, minutes and office-bearers that we lose sight of the moment which needed to be captured as public space and dissent. This is the same for established NGOs as well. Power corrupts anywhere.

We need to step up our protests for our worth and dignity as the ordinary person, the worker, the student, the mother of persons tortured and harassed by police, the taxpayer whose savings and taxes are utilised by powerful government officials for their own ends, namely the perpetuation of their unpopular rule.

The next time, we see an ordinary protest in our midst, be it against the ISA, the police, our savings, dams, chicken prices, uncleared rubbish whatever, make the step to stand together with the protestors. Be assured that protestors have developed mechanisms in such situations for dealing with police violence.

You will notice that more and more at such peaceful gatherings that there would be civil society ' pemantaus ' (monitors) and freelance photographers who would record state violence against the people. You yourself could volunteer as a pemantau right there and then. At least you would be able to identify special branch officers, the goons employed as agents to break up peaceful assemblies and their methods.

You will learn to stand proud in protest. Visible protests show our public disdain of mal-administration of our country. Have no fear, the public space belongs to the people.