Here we go again. Educated policemen with numerous degrees to their names leading their men to arrest simple people out to create awareness.

Turn the picture around and put members of political parties in the ruling coalition on bicycles and you will get an instant police permit and an even an escort service to ensure that they are protected. That is democracy in Malaysia!

There are numerous cases of cyclists in the interiors who don't have proper reflectors and lights on their bicycles. Strangely, the police often don’t care two hoots about these souls but if you decide to spread a message and make people aware of their political rights, then your bicycle had better be equipped.

Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1964, is a piece of legislative drivel dished out from a Parliament which had no properly educated representatives who could differentiate between a gathering of five friends and an assembly of people.

We have this piece of legislation which makes a mockery of your right to gather in this country. Every wedding, birthday party, thanksgiving kenduri , and funerals would technically need a permit in Malaysia if the Police Act is applied.

I am sure no arrests, threats or intimidation will be made if Umno, MCA or MIC members decide on motorcycle convoys traversing through the kampungs and trunk roads in the country to spread their political message.

Why should we claim to be a democracy if we can't practice it? This is what the Malaysian people should understand. Many harp on the fact that the opposition has not proven itself? When you have a constant denial of basic rights to freedom of speech, assembly and association, how is the opposition supposed to work?

If the chief minister of Penang had not gracefully accepted the memorandum submitted by Jerit cyclists on the northern leg of their tour, they would have ended up in jail. Even the lorry transporting the bicycles was not spared.

These double standards are what Malaysian politics is all about, one rule for the ruling elite and another for the common man on the road. One would ask, "Isn't this the best recipe for widening the gap between the rich and the poor in the country?"

We are effectively putting a lid on important issues. Soon, things will come to a head and we might see an earth shattering political earthquake if these basic liberties are not given and protected.

The police force needs serious re-education in race relations and human rights. Instead of taking blind instructions from their political masters without stopping to think what a mockery it would make them of, police officers should be trained to evaluate basic freedoms and exercise rationale when making decisions.

Robberies and violent crimes are what the police should seek to reduce if it wants the people's confidence in them to be restored, but instead we have a police force that is super efficient when it comes to protecting the government.

Perhaps what Jerit should consider now is to walk in groups of two from different towns in the country wearing messages on T-shirts or get sponsors to allow them to speak from a loud hailer on a moving vehicle. This would put law enforcers in a quandary as to what law to use against these people.

Frustration is going to build up over time and we might see more street rallies. This boiling over effect will lead to many more young people registering to become voters to ensure that they see a change in not only the leadership of the country, but the institutions of government.

The 13th general election and every election after that must see Malaysians voting with a conscience to ensure that any ruling government only rules with a simple majority. There must never be a situation where the ruling coalition gets 148 seats or more, it must always be less than a two-thirds majority so that the government is forced to change its ways.

This looks to be the best way in which we can bring change to Malaysia although it might not happen overnight. However, I am sure that it will happen. Until then, we must continue to cycle, walk, run and talk to spread the message and educate the people.