vox populi small thumbnail 'Let this rally be a cry for freedom and fair play in the election rules and conduct. Let us all show how sick and tired we are with the EC.'

S'gor PAS promises 50,000 members for Bersih

FellowMalaysian: The resolve of the people is clear about electoral reform. This can only be achieved (by the looks of things) through mass participation because the EC will only respond to the majority voices of the people.

So we should all show support for the rally and show the rest of the world that we Malaysians can unite and organise a peaceful and civil rally when the time has come for us to do so.

Ben Hor: Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, I am very sure these 50,000-plus PAS members will be marching shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Chinese and Indian brethren for a peaceful change.

If you're going to create any chaos against the Chinese, you're unfortunately going to be dealing with your own Malay Muslim brothers from PAS first.

Quigonbond: They could even arrest Bersih chief S Ambiga or PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu under preventive laws, but there are many second-rung leaders who can simply take over.

As far as I'm concerned, the international press is going to have a field day, capturing unique flavour of Malaysian civil disobedience, and putting the Malaysian government to shame. My advice to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Perkasa - give up your resistance. It's futile.

Shabaruddin: Come on people, let's not ask for numbers from PAS, PKR and DAP. This is a Bersih rally. It is about the participation of the rakyat. Let us rakyat say, let ME be there!

Raja Chulan: I would like to suggest to Ambiga to approach all NGOs, including professional associations (representing lawyers, engineers, accountants, doctors, surveyors, architects, etc), to participate in the Bersih 2.0 rally.

Let this rally be a cry for freedom and fair play in the election rules and conduct. Let us all show how sick and tired we are with the EC and the government.

Every Vote Counts: I shall be there even though I am suppose to be busy with something, but then again this something is not that important as the Bersih rally. In fact, nothing is more important than this peaceful rally.

For the sake of the future generations and for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians, I shall be a participant. It is now or never. Let's walk the talk.

Lulu: I was at the last Bersih rally on Nov 10, 2007. PAS' Unit Amal helped keep ordinary folks like me safe. I look forward to walking this cause and I look forward to PAS' presence at the march.

Ibrahim Ali 'proud' of calls for his arrest

Malaysian Born: Ibrahim Ali is so transparent he even says he is proud that people are fearful of his threats of racial violence.

The point here is not to arrest this fool, this will just give credence to the nonsense he espouses, but for the powers-that-be to distance themselves from him. They need to make it clear that they do not support or condone his threats.

Given our ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's open support for him and the lack of tangible response from Umno as a party, it is terribly demeaning to the credibility of the Malay component of BN.

You should not be surprised if the electorate lose confidence in the government - to sit quiet while this man makes racial threats reflects very badly on all connected to him.

Born In M'sia: I can foresee that in the coming general election, the Chinese voting will be most united in the history of Malaysia. Thank you, Ibrahim Ali and PM Najib Abdul Razak. Sorry, MCA.

Michael Angelo: When a group burned Interlok author Abdullah Hussain's picture, nobody knew anything about it. The mainstream media blacked out the incident. However, when Perkasa burned Ambiga Sreenevasan's photo, the mainstream media put in on the front page.

So you see, it is dangerous and also counter productive when the mainstream media is controlled and dictated by the government. In any case, two wrongs don't make a right.

David Dass: Perhaps we are giving too much time to Ibrahim Ali. He has no credibility. He panders to the lowest possible denominator of society. Right-thinking people will not take him seriously.

We are a democracy. In a democracy, there will be elections. These elections should be free and fair. Only then will democracy work. The rakyat should be free to vote whichever party they like to be in power. The rakyat should be free to vote any person they want as their elected representative in parliament or the state assembly.

Threats of racial or religious conflict should not be tolerated. The sensitive issues have been removed from the sphere of public debate by the Sedition Act and any fear by Malays or non-Malays alike that their rights under the Federal Constitution would be removed should not be there because these rights have been entrenched and cannot be removed without the approval of Malays and non-Malays respectively. There can be no government in the country without a Malay majority.

The party in power has as much right to demonstrate the correctness of their actions as has the opposition to criticise. The line should however be drawn when someone threatens violence. That is neither cute nor funny. It is deadly serious.

The silent majority run the risk of a vociferous minority hijacking the national agenda. We are a modern progressive nation. Our leaders should occupy centre stage. Not this man.

 

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