I guess I can be a little schizophrenic - zen-like peaceful at times, even armed with a benign smile when some people do silly, angry things. And then I can switch to searing-anger at other times which I reckon might even put Alex Ferguson to shame.
Going through some feedback however, filled me with a whole spectrum of feelings including disappointment, irritation, impatience right through to quiet suffering and on to resigned acceptance.
So many of us are driven or controlled by fear of some form of reprisal. Funny thing is, I can’t help but think that in leaving Malaysia to work here, some of us have left behind the gumption, strong-will and independent streak that most Malaysians possess. We’ve become even more fearful and unwilling to stick our necks out even that little bit.
And it seems that the little bit required to add their face to the campaign is just too much for many to hurdle. They create all sorts of justifications for their actions - or rather their lack of action.
Here’s one point that came up which I thought was rather lame - that even western democracies don’t have free and fair access to the media.
5. Free and fair access to media
Full text of demand:
It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all political parties.
Well, as I see it, western democracies actually do allow fair access to the media. At the very least they don’t restrict it. And I see one major contributing factor to be the lack of the Printing Presses and Publications Act. This act gives absolute power to the Minister of Home Affairs to grant or revoke licences not just for publishing but also for the very operating of a printing press.
Political parties who wish to publish their own newspapers, or private organisations who exercise some partisanship for opposition political organisations may simply not be able, legally at least, to publish their side of things.
And it doesn’t stop there - to reach the more remote places, one would think of radio and TV as options but these are restricted too. To have completely free and fair access to the media would mean, among other things, repealing this law.
Then let market forces take over. One of the reasons any politician, regardless of affiliation, can get extensive media coverage elsewhere is that it makes sales for the publication. Everyone wants ‘the scoop’. If we applied that idea to Malaysia just imagine what would happen when Utusan published one of their infamous totally fictitious and slanderous reports (of which there are many examples). In the current situation, we get a lot of lamenting by the aggrieved and nothing much else. In our ideal situation, the newspapers would be rushing to get ‘the alternative viewpoint’ and the other side of the story then emerges. Freely and fairly. To some extent at least.
Some ask what Nos 6 through 8 have to do with Bersih’s aims. And aren’t they outside of the purview of the Electoral Commission, or at least the scope of Bersih?
Well, in a word, ‘No’.
6. Strengthen Public Institutions
One refrain you hear is that these institutions must be doing their job fairly or the opposition wouldn’t have won 5 states in the last elections. Well, they didn’t. And if they did, the opposition might well have won every state. I’m not going to touch on the Judiciary, AG, MACC and even the Police. I think I would be hard-pressed to find, even among Bersih’s detractors, one person who can claim honestly, sincerely and openly that those institutions are beyond reproach.
Let’s instead focus on the EC.
The reality is that the EC has not consistently, speedily and committedly acted in the people’s interests. The about-turn on the use of indelible ink is just one instance. The reluctance to act on cleaning the electoral roll is another. The cowardly backing down from acting on clearly documented (recorded on video no less) cases of bribery (including by the PM no less) is indication enough that the EC fails to act independently and impartially.
Full text of the demand:
Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.
In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.
This segues nicely into No 7.
7. Stop Corruption
Someone said ‘good luck - this will never happen’
OK let’s forget about all the crap about police speed traps and so on. Those who know me know I have never paid a bribe.
Let’s focus on corruption in elections. I ask you only this: ‘Do you think it happens?’ If you replied ‘Yes’ then what possible objection could you have to having this as a goal of Bersih? The idea that we can never fully clear our system of corruption is fatally flawed - for if we do not set lofty targets, we never leave the ground.
We know the ‘western democracies’ are not totally clean. But when instances of corruption are uncovered, they are dealt with by an impartial court. Impartial. That word again. Didn’t I mention it, oh, maybe a few times? Somewhere a few paragraphs up, maybe in close proximity to another ‘i’ word - independently. Oh, and close also to ‘government institutions’.
Click here to read up on one case where ‘western democracies’ have acted on corruption.
Back to my earlier question - if you had instead answered ‘No, corruption never happens in elections in Malaysia’ I’d ask that you read more than just the Utusan. No, first of course I would throw my hands up in the air, roll my eyes back in my head, maybe scream a little…
Full text of demand:
Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.
OK? Understand? Now let’s move on to the last point…
8. Stop Dirty Politics.
This brought a laugh from a few people and I realised why - they fail to understand this point entirely. Of course you will still get some low-down comments and stories. Of course someone will dig up some dirt here and some dung there. But we need to rise above what is sensationalist or destructive and demand more.
Such as proper debates of policies by the candidates. Such as a proper scrutiny of candidates’ track records and personal wealth - both of which may require a freedom of information act if certain details are not readily volunteered. Such as proper analysis of policies in the media.
I want to be assured the chap who is seeking to represent me in Parliament is visionary, capable, driven, proven and most of all, I want him to be clean. Yes, Bersih.
So now we come to one last comment I received. ‘I can’t be political. There are implications for me and my kids’
Of course there are.
And that is why we need to do this.
Sure I have the luxury of being self-employed and making my own rules. And I appreciate some of you work for companies which discourage you from taking part in ‘political activities’.
Well, I ask you then to look around your organisation and see if anyone there sits on the board of a PAP driven organisation. Or maybe he does grassroots work? Maybe the People's Association - which comes under the Prime Minister’s Office? Often wears white? OK let me be factual rather than facetious...
Fact is when most organisations discourage their employees or staff from being active in politics they are really saying don’t support the opposition. If you chose to support the incumbent, chances are neither the CEO nor someone from HR will call you up for tea and give you some good advice.
So… think about that for a bit. Then try to resolve that with what you would LIKE to do.
Yes, this is indeed about implications for you and your kids - presuming you want to live in Malaysia again one day. You can stand by and do nothing for any of the reasons mentioned before. Or you can stand up and be counted. And make a difference.
I’ve shot down all your possible objections - and others, more eloquent than I, have covered other objections not listed here. The last step is yours.
Just ask yourself which of these you would prefer:
Five years from now if Malaysia is doing badly would you look your children in the eye and say “I wish I had stood up with x-thousand other Malaysians and made a difference. Things would be so much better now.”?
or this:
Five years from now if Malaysia is doing very well indeed would you look your children in the eye and say “I am so proud I stood up with x-thousand other Malaysians and made a difference! Things are so much better now!”
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