'The Bersih movement has taken on a life of its own and has become a growing tsunami of discontent and frustration.'

Anwar: I will tell Ambiga to call off Bersih rally

JBGUY: Bersih chairperson S Ambiga, stick to your guns. We, the people, are behind you. It is not for the politicians to decide if the rally is to be called off.

Only if the Election Commission (EC) implements the eight demands should this rally be re-considered. Even then, we have a history of promises being unkept by the powers-that-be.

Kosongcafe: Can we trust PM Najib Razak even if he were to accede to a clean electoral roll, reform of postal votes, use of indelible ink, free and fair access to the media, minimum 21 days campaign period, strengthening of public institutions, stop corruption and dirty politics?

The main problem seems to be disagreement over whether the election system is fair, with BN insisting it is, while Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 2.0 insisting it is not. Even the use of indelible ink was dropped at the last moment in 2008 despite the EC having bought the ink.

The only thing which we can hold on to is probably the minimum 21 days campaign period if that is agreed to. The rest are too subjective and open to disagreement.

Beetle: Well said, Ambiga. It is truly not up to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to decide whether the Bersih 2.0 rally should go on or not. The organising committee will have the last say.

Anticommunalist: Look at the audacity of Anwar to say that. I can never trust this guy. Bersih has nothing to do with you, Anwar.

Get that into your thick skull and don't you dare try to hijack it again as you did the last time, coming late on a 500cc bike and made everyone wait for you as though you were some superstar.

NX: Bersih 2.0 has nothing to do with Pakatan, so Pakatan butt out! If BN chooses to reform itself and have credible politicians and exercise free and fair elections, the people may decide to support them.

So stop assuming that Bersih is part of the opposition. Be reminded that PKR can't even have free elections within the party.

Ghkok: Anwar knows that Najib and Umno will never be able to agree to free and fair elections. He was not trying to undermine Ambiga. No one is stupid enough to try to undermine the Bersih movement. Chill guys.

Hibiscus: Ambiga is right. Bersih is not about her. It is about the citizens of Malaysia marching for their fundamental democratic right to elect a government of their choice. It is a call to all political parties to refrain from foul play and to the EC to fulfill its noble duty to the citizens by ensuring an election that is free from fraud, cheating, threats and intimidation.

Bersih is not a political event. So DSAI (Anwar Ibrahim) and other politicians should not give the perception that they have the power to decide about Bersih. But all political parties which want to see that they win fair and lose fair should support Bersih by marching with the many other Malaysians who do not belong to any political party.

Hopefully all political parties are equally concerned and come together to support Bersih for the common good of Malaysia.

Boonpou: The message is loud and clear. If Pakatan Rakyat takes over government, Anwar cannot be its leader (and thus the prime minister). Listen to how he speak - that he would call Ambiga to call off the Bersih rally.

He does not realise he has no power to tell Ambiga to call off the event. He does not realise the march is not decided by Ambiga. He does not realise what the march signifies. It's about democracy and a clean election process. Democracy is about the people. The people decides. Not one individual.

If you really think and analyse Anwar's statement, or rather, his command, it contradicts what can be deemed as democracy. You cannot tell Ambiga what to do. You have become, in a sense, your own dictator.

Jiminy Qrikert: DSAI's message was meant for PM Najib Razak, not Ambiga. Pakatan is about 'ketuanan rakyat' and DSAI knows better than to think he can 'call' on anyone to change a legitimate decision or stand taken.

When you want to 'tell' someone to do something that is not quite kosher, you do not announce it in public - you do it quietly, backed with sufficient force to get the result you want.

All Anwar has done is issued Najib a challenge to come clean. But here, anyone who has a beef with DSAI, is jumping up and down demanding that he retracts his statements.

Fact - DSAI is PM-in-waiting for the large majority of Pakatan supporters. A few may fancy Mohamad Sabu. Others, Nik Aziz Nik Mat. And some, dreamily, LKS (Lim Kit Siang).

Anyway, Ambiga and DSAI are doing it just right. The ‘good cop, bad cop' tactic is very effective. And PAS and DAP are both watching. Hello, this is politics, no?

Ferdtan: Anwar, wrong choice of word. Ambiga, you are right on.

1M for All: Ambiga is right. Bersih is not about an individual. It is about clean and fair elections by the people, for the people.

As it is, the election system is in favour of the government, especially campaign funding and the abuse of state machineries. The Bersih rally is not about politics. It is about fighting for clean and fair elections. What good will a government be, if its electoral victory is won without popular support.

Fairnessforall: Yes, Anwar should not make such remarks trying to imply that Bersih rally is linked to Pakatan. He is not the organiser so what right has he got to say that he will call Ambiga and tell her to call off the rally. Ambiga does not take instructions from him.

Anwar should not overstep his boundaries. I understand where he is coming from, but he should only speak for PKR or Pakatan. He could have said instead that if Najib agrees to allow free and fair elections then Pakatan will not attend the rally - that's as far as he should have gone as he does not control Bersih.

AnakBangsaMalaysia: The Bersih movement has taken on a life of its own and has become a growing tsunami of discontent and frustration.

No one - not even the honourable S Ambiga - can call it off now. No threats can stop the Bersih wave. The voice of the people will be heard on July 9.

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