FREE YOURSAY 'When we wanted Stadium Merdeka, they told us to go to a stadium in Selangor. When we want Dataran Merdeka, they ask us to go to Stadium Merdeka.'

Ambiga: Why offer alternative at eleventh hour?

your say Multi Racial: In July 2011, when Bersih 2.0 asked for Stadium Merdeka, they said no. Now we want Dataran Merdeka, they asked us to use Stadium Merdeka.

S Ambiga and Bersih made the right decision not to switch. The last time when Bersih 2.0 apply to have it in Stadium Merdeka, the stadium authority rejected it.

As to the excuse given by the Kuala Lumpur mayor that if they entertain us. they will have to entertain other NGOs like Perkasa - go ahead, allow others to use Dataran Merdeka for their demonstration on other days. We are not against it.

Ferdtan: It is obvious that the government through the police and City Hall wanted to frustrate the organising committee of the Bersih 3.0 protest with late replies and approvals.

They unsolicitedly offer alternative venue at eleventh hour to throw the spanner in the works. Let DBKL and the BN government be warned - if Dataran Merdeka is cordoned off to prevent the sit-in protest, then the Bersih supporters would be left with no choice but to march in the streets.

By the unwittingly decision of the mayor, the marching around the city would definitely creates much greater impact - instead of a lesser boisterious 'duduk bantah' form of dissent.

Wira: When we wanted Stadium Merdeka, they told us to go to a stadium in Selangor. When we want Dataran Merdeka, they ask us to go to Stadium Merdeka.

The Umno stooges just want to put obstacles and be difficult. They want to play the one upmanship with Bersih.

It is pretty obvious that they fear this uninhibited huge gathering may trigger an avalanche that could torpedo BN. Let's show them we are not afraid to change this country for the better.

Anonymous_ABG: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) knew well in advance the organisers of Bersih decided to hold their public meeting at Dataran Merdeka.

The civil authorities had initially remained silent which means no objection. But Umno and their minions namely Ibrahim Ali, expressed objection and now DBKL suddenly woke up to their masters' call.

Civil servants have to serve the public in accordance with laws of the land in a fair and just manner and not to suit the whims and fancies of Umno.

Cheers to Bersih's S Ambiga and her dedicated colleagues. May the Almighty God bless them and lead them to success for their success is also the success of the nation.

ONG: Kuala Lumpur mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail is like many other top civil servants. They behave like obedient Umno-BN servants instead of like politically neutral civil servants because they depend not on their own merits and abilities but rather on Umno-BN for their highly-paid jobs.

They also know that if they behave like obedient Umno-BN servants, when they retire from their cushy civil service jobs, they will be rewarded with even more lucrative private sector multiple directorships where they will be paid huge fees without even having to do work.

Hero325: All these are just a political show to attract votes for opposition. Remember, in late 2007, when Hindraf decided to demonstrate, it generated 85 percent of Indian votes for opposition.

The opposition has learned from this - they will keep demonstrating to increase their voting strength. It's as simple as that.

Everyday420: To Ambiga and the rest of the Bersih committee, the rakyat cannot thank you enough for your stand for the country, for our rights, for clean governance and for our future.

I urge you to never give up on us, never back down and always keep your chin up.

James1067: They are giving us the run-around. They have no intention to give you Stadium Merdeka as they will come up with an excuse at the last moment.

They did this the last time, so their words are not to be trusted. The police have said no to the rally and even if the stadium authorities say yes. You will be back to square one.

So let the mayor take the responsibility as the politicians are standing on the sidelines and giving instructions. They will later blame the local authorities if anything goes wrong.

Louis: Fuad, what is so wrong if it is held in Dataran Merdeka? Please be reminded, that most of the Bersih people are paying their dues to the City Hall and therefore it is their right to use the Dataran.

Don't treat it as if it belongs to you.

Rakyat Malaysia: This alternative venue offer is another ploy by DBKL to split the Bersih supporters so that the FRU (riot police) and DBKL officers can go after the small numbers, arrest and ‘whack' them. Be careful, stay with the crowd.

Kairos: All these officers at DBKL are people just like us. We should not be afraid of them. The fact that they wear the blue uniform does not scare us.

In fact, with an estimate of at least 20,000 of us, they should be the ones who are scared. Worse-case scenario: they use force to wrestle some of us down. But there are many more of us compared to them.

We have the numbers. Why should we be intimidated by these fellas? After all, we are a peaceful assembly and we just want to exercise our rights. We are not a national threat.

 

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