Sinister motives behind Perkasa's gatecrashers

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your say 'Free and fair elections is the lifeblood of any country. It is every citizen's duty to fight for it and to defend it and never to concede to extremists like Perkasa.'

Ambiga unfazed by Perkasa belligerence

Video Easy: Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan is ‘formally' correct, even ‘hyper-correct', in everything that she says. But a very ominous situation is developing.

To ban the march would have deplorable implications; to authorise a counter-march to clash with and ‘set upon' the Bersih event (as chillingly foreshadowed by Ibrahim Ali) can only be described as reckless and unconscionably partisan.

The only sensible path forward is for the government and police to separate the two groupings: either group to rally and march in different, far removed parts of the city on the same day or else on different days, for example, successive weekends.

If the government and police do not have the wit or the basic good sense and practical decency to do that, it is pretty silly, really, to be worrying simply about ‘fair elections'. The situation would be shown to be far worse than that.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Only Perkasa is motivated by violence and disorder. They are entitled to their opinion. If they want to demonstrate in support of the BN government and the EC (Election Commission), so be it. Just don't stir or instigate trouble against the Bersih supporters.

The march for democracy is not intended to overthrow the BN government or any BN leader, it is merely to highlight abuses, weaknesses and shortfalls in the electoral process largely due to the lack of impartiality and independence on the part of the EC that is beholden to the BN and only operates to ensure that the BN remains in power through unfair and questionable electoral practices.

Bersih supporters believe in the ideals of Gandhi and Mandela - the peaceful and restrained displays of civil disobedience. The police must ensure that both gatherings are peaceful and orderly and that any provocation or incitement is nipped in the bud.

Ghkok: Free and fair elections is a fundamental pillar of our constitution. Free and fair elections is something that a country needs - just like water and electricity. It is an infrastructure of the country.

If you don't have free and fair elections, democracy dies slowly, the autocrats gains more and more power, there will be more oppression, repression and suppression, the country slowly decays, people's quality of life diminishes, and poverty and crime sets in and we descend into a failed state.

Even China is conducting free elections throughout its villages and small communities. Free and fair elections is the lifeblood of any country. It is every citizen's duty to fight for it and to defend it and never to concede to extremists like Perkasa.

Brij Jayaram Kathiravelu: Hopefully Bersih 2.0 and Perkasa will 'agree to disagree' and the government will do the right thing by allowing both parties to rally but keep them separate.

That way, we will be able to let democracy flourish. The rakyat who disagree with both parties' decision to march can go for a short drive outside of Kuala Lumpur on July 9. That way, everyone can have a good day.

Skong: Mr PM, if you are sincere in wanting to change, this is the best time to show proof by giving the green light for the Bersih march. This way, you might get some support from the fence-sitters.

EugeneT: If according to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's own words , Bersih should be allowed to proceed peacefully.

After all, he did say, "In this day and age, protests should be accepted in this world as people want their voices to be heard. If we don't give them room to voice their opinions, they have no choice but to protest."

ACR: I can only surmise that the Umno government is afraid of the impact the Bersih rally would have if 2008 is to be used as a barometer. The usual excuses of Bersih being a threat to national security, peace and order is, to my opinion, garbage.

Any movement calling for electoral reforms cannot be a threat to national security. This country's problem is the misuse and abuse of power to stifle fundamental liberties of all citizens where even half-baked democracies enjoy - the right to assembly and free speech.

What we have is false police reports lodged nationwide on the pretext of security by one of the more violent groups in this country. Did Bersih marchers carry cow-heads in 2008? Did they throw pig carcasses around? Did they burn churches or mosques?

Anonymous_40dd: Perkasa will mobilise its thugs to disrupt the peaceful rally so that the police can arrest the victims, but not the thugs.

Quigonbond: I'm laughing my head off. The more Ambiga is cool about this, the more Perkasa, Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Noordin seem crass.

I'm really glad Zulkifli was booted out of PKR. Sitting next to Ibrahim Ali while the latter threatens a peaceful rally with violence, he has confirmed his political misleanings once and for all.

[email protected] Oz: The time have come for us to walk the talk. All of us, regardless of what and who we are, should walk together hand in hand. Be brave, be firm and be strong.

Whatever happened, let us stand unmoved and do not fight back even we are beaten or kicked. We are here not to demand a revolution but to remind the elite, the powerful and the rich in this country that we are also a part of this beloved country of ours, and we too are their children and members of their families.

 


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