YOURSAY 'Ibrahim Ali, didn't Perkasa just hold a street demonstration not too long ago? In the English language, there is a word called ‘hypocrite'.'

Ibrahim Ali: Street demos no longer relevant

Milosevic: Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali is wrong once again. Peaceful demonstrations are fundamental in effecting political change.

The outstanding political scientists, Piven and Cloward, have shown that major policy changes in the United States were brought about outside of electoral politics. Civil disobedience made the US more democratic, not the normal functioning of party politics which merely preserved the status quo.

It is my hypothesis that street demonstrations might indeed become less prevalent in Malaysia if someone like Ibrahim Ali becomes an irrelevant figure in Malaysian politics.

When will the country leapfrog the Ibrahim Ali era?

Anomnim: Ibrahim Ali, didn't your Perkasa just hold a street demonstration not too long ago? In the English language, there is a word called "hypocrite".

Vgeorgemy: Datuk, why did your boys get involved in recent street demonstration against Bersih and the Felda director-general ?

Are you saying street demonstration is okay as long as it is organised by Umno and your people to threaten non-Malays and law-abiding Malays?

Geronimo: Street demos no longer relevant? Well, Ibrahim Ali should know. He could not even muster enough people to be part of the anti-Bersih 2.0 group. Thus using this as a yardstick, it is no wonder to him that such activities are no longer deemed relevant.

In any case, Ibrahim Ali should talk to the cow-head protesters and tell them the same message, or to the Muslims who gathered in the streets after Friday prayers shouting blue murder at non-Muslims, especially the Christians.

Cala: We do not have to go into the merits of street demonstration with Ibrahim Ali. Even PM Najib Razak has earlier conceded that the harsh law of anti-street assembly is outdated and hence it is time to have it repealed.

But why is the idea of street demonstration planned for Jan 9? In a liberal democracy such as in America and Great Britain, it is a means to express our idea on certain issue. The size of the crowd reflects the severity of the issue and its urgency.

In all fairness, if past conduct can be taken as a yardstick, the regime should have no fear for any untoward incident. After all, the goal of the organisers is Putrajaya. So why should they spoilt their chances by misbehaving themselves and being unruly?

The police/regime may want to change their paradigm by facilitating this event. Take it as a healthy sport of political competition. Take it as part of a political process that shapes public opinion, or if you prefer, how our judiciary is judged.

Compass: Of course, of course. Perkasa could only muster 10 heads in Lake Titiwangsa to counter-demonstrate against Bersih 2.0 and managed several cow heads in the demonstration at the Selangor state secretariat building.

Perkasa is the one that is no longer relevant, not street demos.

Matrixlyn : "(But) things are different today, from when the country was less developed, commodity prices were unstable, poverty was abundant and... the threat of communism was strong," Ibrahim said.

Well, I've got news for you. Today things are indeed different; people are smarter, communications are instant, the country's petrol reserve is running low, corruption is at an all-time high, poverty is not much better than 40 years ago, and the worst is... the threat of Umno-ism is strong.

Today we are fighting for the survival of our country. If we continue to let Umno have its way, we are doomed for bankruptcy and eventual financial collapse that will set us back 100 years.

Hang Babeuf: In other words, Ibrahim is saying, ‘My struggles, my feelings, my ideas matter. Yours don't. Nobody else's does. Nobody's but mine.'

Views like these are not the sign of a great mind, of an engaging and inclusive politician. They are the trademark of a narrow, shrunken soul with a mean spirit.

AkuMelayu: I agree with Ibrahim Ali. In those days, we had limited media channels to air our views. There are only a handful of newspapers and radio channels. Demonstrations were the only way for us to get our views across.

Why do we have to act primitive in this borderless world where information can be transmitted at a split of a second?

Blind Freddo: The loonies are out in force today. AkuMelayu, since when have so many media channels been open to the general public to have their voices heard?

Kit Carson: The media is a tool exploited to the maximum by BN and there are no avenues for others to air their displeasure, even students. The same thing happened in the Philippines under former president Marcos until ‘people power' eventually took over.

Malaysian Born: Leave aside trying to justify or criticise street demonstrations, Ibrahim's attempt to paint himself in a positive light during his student days was a bit much.

He was a young, crude thug, good at instigation then, now an old thug trying to be good at instigating animosity and bile.

While these children work out how they should evolve, telling them that what was ‘okay' for the generations before them, who were not only politically active in their time but most were far more bellicose and judgmental, is silly.

How can he say that it's different now and they should be treated like children in short pants and made to behave. They are our future leaders, they need to be treated with respect and allowed to think and express themselves.

David Dass: The right to assemble peaceably is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is regarded as a fundamental freedom essential to a democracy.

In Malaysia, the legislature can impose restrictions on the exercise of such right as they consider expedient to maintain public order. The restrictions cannot have the effect of extinguishing the right.

Judicial review of the reasonableness of any restrictions imposed is possible but may be limited. No one can take the position that street demonstrations are no longer relevant.

The issue is whether the newly legislated amendments are necessary to maintain public order. A democratic system like ours must be nourished and sustained by citizens being allowed the full exercise of their democratic freedoms.

Governments must at all times be accountable to the people. Checks and balances are essential to prevent corruption and any tendency towards autocratic government. Even in Singapore, efficient and honest government was not considered sufficient by the people.

Mamakputra's Stooge: The best readers of this site can do to stop Malaysiakini posting any crap spewing from Ibrahim Ali's mouth is to stop making any comments.

Take a leaf from National Geographic's fight against endangered animals, when our comments stop, the publishing of worthless articles will also stop.

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