YOURSAY 'The last time there was a rally, who created the violence? Is violence being engineered again by the police and City Hall?'

DAP senator says 'no' to Bersih rally at Dataran

Cannon: I'd like to share a thought with senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim. In-house ceramah are attacked by goons and participants beaten up.

These are not isolated cases but are part of a repetitive pattern that suggests there is organised violence directed at the opposition.

The regime condones political thuggery with the police looking the other way. So, where is it safe for citizens to assemble and exercise their freedom of self-expression?

Prime Minister Najib Razak had the opportunity to stop Bersih 3.0 by giving a pledge that he will not call for elections until the electoral roll is cleaned up. He ignored the call.

As the leader of the BN, if he stands for clean, free and fair elections, is it so hard for him to make this commitment?

Najib leaves citizens with no choice but to rally and make their demands heard on Saturday.

Toffeesturn: Whilst I tend to be in agreement with DAP vice-chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz, there are issues here that need to be addressed.

Firstly, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) does not own Stadium Merdeka, on what basis is it being offered at the eleventh hour?

We hear so much about violence, but who is threatening violence? The last time there was a rally, who created the violence? Is violence being engineered here by the police and City Hall on behalf of BN?

The message here is straightforward, go there and we shall make trouble for you. That is what City Hall is saying.

Tunku Abdul Aziz does not want us to be caught in that trap, but is it right to just walk away when intimidation has been the order of the day with this regime? Or do we say enough is enough and we want to stop all this.

I think we have had enough. It is time to take the bull by the horns.

Gobsmacked!: In Bersih 2.0, it was the police who caused the chaos while the citizens were well-behaved and restrained, and trying to avoid getting hurt.

Then it was the authorities that deprived the public of the use of Stadium Merdeka that forced the people onto the streets.

Now the DBKL is again repeating past mistakes. By closing Dataran Merdeka, the people are deprived of a venue and will have to be on the streets.

Whose fault is it? Senator, I agree we should abide by what the authorities say - that is, if the authorities are reasonable and independent.

They (the police, civil authorities like the DBKL, Election Commission, etc) have shown time and again that they are beholden to the ruling party and are completely partial towards them.

We cannot be obeying them. They have shown that they cannot be trusted. If they continue to stick to their decision to close Dataran Merdeka, the whole city will be locked down, which is worse.

DBKL is just a proxy of the Umno leaders. One word from them and the mayor will relent.

Gerard Lourdesamy: I agree with the Tunku. Looking at it objectively, Bersih 3.0 can achieve its purpose at Stadium Merdeka. Leave the battle for Dataran Merdeka for a different occasion.

Given the impact of modern communications, with the Internet, Facebook and Twitter, the change of venue can be done at relatively short notice since most people are going to be from KL, Selangor and the greater Klang Valley in any case. The venue is not important, but the message is.

Rather than congregating on the streets around Dataran Merdeka, causing problems to the traffic and pedestrians, and inviting a response from the police and DBKL, we should just gather in peace at Stadium Merdeka on condition that no onerous or unreasonable terms are imposed by the stadium board or the Merdeka Heritage Trust.

If it is a ruse by Umno-BN, then we take to the streets come heaven or hell.

RR: If our intention is to show displeasure on EC's weaknesses and maneuvers, then Bersih should avoid the confrontation, which is being deliberately staged to create havoc and destroy the assembly.

Looking at the behaviour of the organised troublemakers who speak like thugs, saying things like ‘jangan main dengan api', we know that this exercise is going to be chaotic and there will be thugs attacking innocent people and causing injury. The police will just stand by and watch.

On the other hand, if we assemble at Stadium Merdeka, the police cannot impose roadblocks at the various parts of the cities. This will also prevent people from cursing Bersih leaders for creating traffic havoc.

I support the suggestion that the assembly be held at Stadium Merdeka, which is also a historical place. Police must ensure there are no roadblocks anywhere. People can then go freely in large numbers.

It would not be the same if it is held at the banned Dataran.

Don't Play-Play: I'm glad to see some Bersih supporters here have let their common sense prevail. Forget Dataran Merdeka and have your day at the Merdeka Stadium tomorrow.

Hero325: When Tunku Abdul Aziz speaks against the government, netizens will generally praise him for his so-called courage.

Now you see that Tunku Abdul Aziz is under verbal attack, simply because he spoke against the Pakatan Rakyat stand on the Bersih rally.

It is very clear that Pakatan supporters cannot even tolerate differing views, even if they are not yet in power.

The moment they hold power, they will be even more intolerant. What's wrong for Tunku Abdul Aziz to hold differing views on the 428 assembly? He did not say that it is illegal. He merely advised the organisers to switch venues.

Wira: This is a democracy. The Tunku has his say, so do others. I consider the authorities are just trying to be difficult and acting to frustrate Bersih.

Thus an offer by the mayor may not carry weight. Past history showed us when the PM offered a stadium and Bersih picked Stadium Merdeka, they were refused, ostensibly from pressure within Umno.

To change a venue three days before the event is a logistics nightmare for the organisers. A clean election is a must before we can trust the legislative process. On this, Bersih is spot on.

If Umno and BN are not willing to fight fairly, the people are hopeful that a Bersih wave will wash them to the opposition benches. Better we tolerate a Bersih sit-in today than an Arab Spring here tomorrow.

KLeo: The honourable senator's principled stand is admirable, but Malaysia is no democracy.

The laws here have been used and abused by the ruling party - just take the recent parliamentary sitting for example, in which eight laws were passed without proper discussion. We don't trust our adulterated laws (and the institutions erected to enforce them, mind you).

It's unfortunate that we have to bend the laws to restore balance, but there's no question Bersih 3.0 is a must.

Baiyuensheng: Tunku Abdul Aziz is right in that we should follow the advice of the police but since when are the police objective and professional?

If they are, I am sure the rakyat would not find them so repugnant.

Kgen: Dear senator, how to push for change in Parliament when BN controls Parliament? When all the institutions have been corrupted, when there is nobody you can turn to to rectify the wrongs? What choice do the citizens have, but to take to the streets?

If democracy is working there is no need for street protests but the last check and balance - elections to vote out a corrupt government - has been removed from us by a corrupt EC.

Headhunter: What Tunku Abdul Aziz said may be true had the government been fair and listened to its people.

But in the Malaysian context, where the BN government has been bullying and threatening us and treated us with disrespect, submitting to their wishes will only encourage them to bully us further.

Respect goes both ways. If the government listens to us, we will listen to them.

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