Of righteous cleanliness and such

La, such a hullabaloo surrounds the Bersih 2.0 rally that This Author decides to bestir his normally-indifferent self towards the nearest news updates to brush up on current local hot-button topics.

It does make one forget one’s own troubles after all … Should This Author’s understanding is somewhat awry, one begs you gentle readers to allow those fanciful inanities and remember that This Author is hardly a political pundit. Tolerance, is after all one of the foundations for harmony, yes?

Now, where were we? Ah, here we go…

Bersih 2.0’s mission is for a clean, free and fair electoral system, with the aim to effectively monitor both sides of the political divide. At its inception a little over three years ago, it was comprised by civil society organisations and political parties with the objective of campaigning for said mission.

This Author applauds noble intentions such as these, should the outcome is favourable and beneficial to all parties concerned. And frankly, to someone as indifferent as This Author, it is immaterial. Or at least, the relevance is somewhat elusive.

Before This Author continues, the following are just his humble opinions, which stemmed from his observations, conversations, experiences and some quick reading—which may or may not be right. This Author is not infallible, after all. Findings from those aforementioned exercises was to This Authors vexation—his, and [presumptuously perhaps] on others’ behalf.

What resulted from a supposedly peaceful rally was a climate of anxiety throughout for non-participants living in the city or its immediate environs. Bersih 2.0 are all about exercising their rights in holding their rally, among which the following three have been bandied about:

1. The right to free speech and expression

2. The right to peaceful assembly

3. The right to freedom of association

We could see the results of having exercised those rights, sadly.


The right to free speech and expression
Blogs, social networking and media sites, news feeds and more are inundated with constant updates where everyone—both local and foreign—is weighing in on the rally from rants, taunts, Wall scribbles, it goes on and on and on … ad infinitum.

This Author heartily holds to the statement that anyone and everyone may opine or have their say but not to the point of denigrating each other. Agreeing to disagree or at the very least, respecting each others’ rights in voicing their own opinions is the very cornerstone of a civilized Society.

This Author should note that the one-and-half-hour spent trawling the Net for Bersih-related items he was tickled and impressed by some of the wittily incisive remarks made regarding the rally—both for and against, mind. As for the trolls inhabiting cyberspace, This Author will just say they warrant no comments.

Sadly, This Author should also add that the Election Commission (SPR) should have a more coherent and knowledgeable response to allegations made against them. Right now, the lay populace is intransigent, ambivalent, or indifferent about the state of things.  The media also should display responsibility in presenting things in a non-partisan manner as well. Stop with the platitudes and ask the hard questions. That is one of the reasons for their being, isn’t it?

With sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose what should be done if one side demands the right of free speech, have at them. The other should spend less time demonizing what gives them purpose and work at collecting easily-verified public data or materials to present their case and demand the same from the naysayers. After all, talk is cheap. It seems right now it’s a case of he said/she said, so to speak.

The right to peaceful assembly
Authorities are arbitrarily conducting arrests on suspected participants with no definite proof or verification, therefore deep-sixing the entire purpose of a peaceful rally. The world—and people—being what it is, this fed a vicious three-way cycle where participants/non-participants/authorities are all victims of their own and others’ abuse.

It also goes without saying that firing tear gas into a hospital whilst chasing down the participants is hardly a move to endear the authorities to the masses. What were you thinking?!? That was directed to both participants and authorities, by the way.

Honest, hardworking employees are afraid to venture out for work due to fear of being mistaken for “dissidents.”

Roads were closed and major public transports were affected—depriving the populace of a chance to actually go out and enjoy their weekend after slogging thru a 5-day week at work. And of course, affecting those who are also working on weekends.

Shops and businesses were closed, depriving consumers of services previously availed to them and business their custom. This brings along the next two items:
1. There are those that may retort, “no shops, people don’t spend; therefore they save money, it’s good for economy.” Just because no money goes out, doesn’t necessarily make it a good thing. This Author is no economist, but from what one understands the basis of economics is one of supply and demand. With no supply for goods or services provided, demands will burgeon and seek alternatives—should they be lucky to obtain one. Otherwise, the cycle will just stagnate.
2. With no shops or businesses open—or those who were unfortunate enough to have employees missing out on work due to fear, productivity had to have experienced a decline, This Author expects.

For a movement that started out with noble intentions, Bersih 2.0 inadvertently became that which they implicitly wanted to avoid, a tyrant—both in its modern and classical meaning of the word.

The right to freedom of association

This Author expected DiGi employees braved their Saturday working days not without some trepidation. 

Interesting. This Author is entertaining a more cynical thought, The right to freedom from association. But one digress. 

Personally, yellow has never looked good on This Author’s dark olive skin. And thank the stars for that! 

Those who were quite vocal about this particular right would state that Bersih 2.0 has a right to be associated with anyone, regardless of political bent.

Now, it was also documented that Bersih 2.0 had issued invitations to all political parties to join them in their walk for democracy but stated that while BN component parties have rejected the invitation however, members of the opposition have decided to join in the walk. This Author is perplexed. If one’s mission is to effectively monitor both sides of the political fence, why include one but not the other? If one is to play Big Brother of sorts, then shouldn’t the presence of both is of equal importance? One shouldn’t preclude the other, after all.

This Author feels that if the mission is to promote reforms to result in clean, free and fair electoral system then associating with only the one party more or less rendered the no-partisan angle null and void.

Sometimes, appearances are of just as equal  importance.

After the spring-cleaning
From what This Author has observed, Bersih 2.0 started out with what appears a noble and workable—and even actionable—agenda.

However, This Author is of the opinion that the impetus of the agenda is somewhat specious and curiously happenstance: alleged vote-rigging and electoral abuse in light of the coming elections in 2013.

This Author suggests instead the following:
For the Government
Invest in good public relations—one that is both knowledgeable and visible.
Develop or employ a model for compliance to be used.
Have a third party observer gauge the effectiveness and share recommendations on improvements—we did utilise the aid of several Englishmen known collectively as Suruhanjaya Cobbold, did we not?
Perform stringent audits or compliance checks on everyone involved with the Electoral Commission.
Present the results publicly.

For the Opposition
Instead of spending time on alleged tampering, compare the definable processes and investigate the following items:
What did they/we do right? Where did they/we fall short?
What have they/we achieved?
What are our/their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities?
How to build on strengths, develop opportunities, and improve weaknesses?

Regardless, these are just opinions and suggestions. From someone who can be called as indifferent to politics, that would certainly be items of interests or buy-ins for This Author.

It certainly bears some ponderings, yes?

* * * * *

Some nuggets and memorable quotes that would do us well to remember:
“Beneath this YELLOW there is an idea, Mr Najib, and ideas are bulletproof,” – Thomas Chai, tweeting to the PM.

Standing up for yourself doesn’t mean stepping on other people’s toes – Enid Blyton, Last Term at Malory Towers

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." – Evelyn Beatrice Hall