A compilation of the Bersih 2.0 rally’s eyewitness accounts was launched today, in commemoration of the rally that took place on July 9, and to counter the negative news about the event played up by the BN controlled mainstream media at the time.

bersih ariticle collection book launch 180911 03 The  210-page bilingual book titled ‘ Kisah Sebenar 9 July 2011 ' (What Really Happened on 9 July 2011) is edited by blogger Nathaniel Tan and his volunteer friends.

This is the first book of its kind. Published two months after the rally, the book consists of 40 articles and 97 photographs of the historic rally that saw 50,000 take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to demand for free and fair elections.

Differing accounts in the mainstream media’s coverage of the rally and the accounts of eyewitnesses had prompted them to compile the book, said Tan.

bersih ariticle collection book launch 180911 book Tan and his team spent one and a half months after the rally trawling Malaysiakini , Facebook and Twitter for Bersih participants to relate their stories.

Amongst them are the first hand accounts of national laureate turned street fighter A Samad Said and the iconic ‘Aunt Bersih’ Anne Ooi.

In the book’s preface, Tan expressed dissatisfaction with the media’s account of the turnout of the rally at 6,000 when some had reported as many as 50,000 participants.

"Most notably, Prime Minister Najib Razak brazenly declared that there was no physical contact between the police and demonstrators, while videos, photos, and eyewitnesses clearly showed tear gas, water canons, and police beating Bersih supporters who had already been restrained," he said.

Birth of Malaysia 2.0

Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and steering committee member Wong Chin Huat were invited to witness the book launch and reunion.

bersih ariticle collection book launch 180911 01 Wong ( far right, with Ambiga and Samad on his left respectively ) made a comparison of Merdeka day and the July 9 rally.

He noted that the rally was like the establishment of "Malaysia 2.0" to him, as this was the day the rakyat became emotionally re-attached after 54 years of Merdeka.

The Merdeka that  took place half a century ago was a "legal reality" to Malaysians, said Wong, and a milestone related to the setting up of the federal constitution, where only the top leaders talked about what they were going to do with the new found independence, while the people had  just clapped and celebrated.

"What is Merdeka...... (It's the) federal constitution; everyone has own interpretation. The minority talks about defending (their rights), Articles 10 and 11 are cited, while Perkasa talks about Article 3, 151, 152 and 181.....we have nothing in common, " he said.

"Our Merdeka legacy does not allow us to talk about diferrences, let alone conflict,” he said.

NONE However, he said, the rally had created  a platform for us to march and cry together,  as well  as help one another, making it a ‘Merdeka’ for our generation, making Merdeka an "emotional reality".

"On that day, two countries were formed; South Sudan and Malaysia 2.0. We went to the street to look for democracy and ended up finding the country," said Wong.

Meanwhile Pak Samad reiterated that the government must implement Bersih’s eight demands to ensure free and fair elections before calling for the next general election, otherwise the election would be pointless.

Ambiga: Bersih still alive

Ambiga in her turn to speak expressed that she too is considering writing a book, to share her opinion of what represents clean and fair elections, as well as to relate her own rally experience.

bersih ariticle collection book launch 180911 ambiga Refusing to let people forget the EO6 incident, that saw the unlawful detention of six Parti Sosialis Malaysia leaders prior to the rally, Ambiga said the EO6 had taken the heat on behalf of Bersih.

As such, she urged the people to continue to keep a close eye on their case, as the person who had issued the detention order and the justification behind the order have yet to be made known till today.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old at the event voiced his concern over what he felt was Bersih’s diminishing role after the rally, judging from media coverage of Bersih that appears to be taking a back seat to new controversies such as the DUMC church raid and Najib’s ISA repeal announcement.

Ambiga replied denying that Bersih 2.0 has died down, saying that the struggle was now in the hands of the rakyat, and that Bersih’s struggle is very much alive.