Arutchelvan: Honour Shahrul's sacrifice - keep reformasi flame alive

Summary

• PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan says the spirit of reformasi belongs to all Malaysians who dreamed of a better Malaysia.

• He calls on Malaysians not to give up, reminding them that change is rarely linear and citing Shahrul Saari’s sacrifice.

The passing of former acting Bersih chairperson Shahrul Aman Saari is a solemn reminder of the courage and sacrifice of countless ordinary Malaysians - beaten and imprisoned but undeterred in pursuing the dream of a freer, fairer nation.

In a poignant reflection, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan posed a burning question: Have the very hands that once ignited the flame of change now extinguished it?

“Shahrul lost his job just 24 hours after joining Bersih. His hope for a better Malaysia led him to set aside all other considerations. He was a true patriot.

“But it saddens me to wonder - was his sacrifice in vain?” he told Malaysiakini.

Arutchelvan also cited Amnesty International’s damning report on the state of human rights in Malaysia, which highlighted deepening authoritarianism and growing repression.

READ MORE: 'Escalating repression': Amnesty report slams M'sia's human rights record

“The irony isn’t lost on us that these findings have emerged under the leadership of a prime minister and political coalition who once promised the opposite,” he remarked.

Don’t lose hope

Nevertheless, Arutchelvan urged Malaysians not to lose hope, reminding them that change is rarely linear.

He further stressed that reformasi does not belong solely to Anwar Ibrahim or Pakatan Harapan, but to all Malaysians who, like Shahrul, dreamt of a better nation.

“Anwar may have sparked the flame, but it was ordinary Malaysians like Shahrul who kept it burning through years of struggle, sacrifice, and hope,” Arutchelvan said, paying tribute to grassroots activists and citizens who upheld the spirit of reformasi even in the darkest times.

“That flame belongs to all of us - and it is our duty to ensure it never dies. The struggle continues,” he added.

Shahrul, 50, who died at the National Cancer Institute yesterday, had led the Bersih 5 rally in 2016 after the electoral watchdog’s chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and secretariat secretary Mandeep Singh were arrested.

He stepped up as acting chairperson during Maria’s detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Last week, Anwar's daughter, Nurul Izzah, a key figure in the reformasi movement, affirmed that the reform agenda remains vibrant and ongoing.

The PKR vice-president acknowledged that the struggle to implement the promised reforms has drawn criticism and ridicule from some quarters.

Conceding that reforms take time to be realised, Nurul Izzah said it is pivotal for the team to continue working so that the struggle does not become obsolete.

Lost his job within 24 hours, ex-Bersih chair recalls Shahrul's sacrifice

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