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Verify, verify, verify

— Ong Kian Ming
The Malaysian Insider
May 24, 2012

MAY 24 — I love this quote from one of the basic rules of journalism — “If your mother says she loves you, check it out”. It’s a warning to journalists to develop a healthy dose of scepticism and to always verify facts even though it’s from a supposedly trustworthy source. I’m not a journalist but I’ve developed my own sense of scepticism after being exposed to academics in the United States, most of whom will jump at every opportunity to dismantle the supposed “proof” or “evidence” behind any new theory. It is perhaps not surprising that we in Malaysia have not developed the same healthy dose of scepticism when presented with a piece of information since we are taught from very young not to question authority figures. But when we are bothered enough to be healthily sceptical and make the extra effort to verify certain facts and figures, the results can be quite enlightening.

Take, for example, the Economic Transformation Programme’s (ETP) Annual Report, which was released in April 2012. According to Exhibit C of this report (pg.8), the nominal Gross National Income in 2011 of RM830 billion surpassed its target of RM797 billion by RM33 billion or 4.1 per cent. In the same exhibit, nominal private investment in 2011 of RM94 billion was shown to have surpassed its target of RM83 billion by RM11 billion or 13.3 per cent. These figures together with other impressive results from the 12 NKEAs led many analysts to praise the ability of the ETP to over-deliver on its targets.

But surprisingly, no one bothered to find out how the GNI and private investment targets were calculated in the first place, especially since the methodology of calculating these projected targets were not revealed in the ETP Annual Report (nor were they revealed in the ETP Roadmap Report which was released in October 2010). If one had bothered to do a bit of research, one would have realised that the RM797 billion nominal GNI target for 2011 seemed a bit low. After all, according to the Ministry of Finance’s Economic Report 2010/2011, which was published together with the 2011 Budget, the projected GNI in 2011 was RM811 billion. This was updated to RM820 billion in the Economic Report 2011/2012, published together with the 2012 Budget. Continue reading “Verify, verify, verify”

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It’s time to police the police force

Jeswan Kaur | May 24, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

The cry for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission is long overdue and yet the Home Ministry feigns ignorance each time police brutality makes the news.

COMMENT

This country desperately needs to get rid of cops who in fact are thugs at work, abusing the rakyat at their whims and fancies. The episode where a Bersih 3.0 participant was whacked for voluntarily confessing that he had participated in the April 28 protest has brought irrevocable shame and damage to the force .

Mohd Safuan Mamat, 24, a Bersih supporter turned up at the Dangi Wangi police station on May 14 to give a statement concerning his involvement in Bersih 3.0. Instead, he ended up fearing for dear life when the cops there turned violent when Mohd Safuan refused to “colloborate” with the cops that he had smashed a police car during the riot.

The manner in which Mohd Safuan was treated by the police is worrying. After giving his statement, he was taken to the lock-up behind the station, handcuffed and detained for the night.

When he refused to be party to a lie, he was allegedly beaten up, first by the cops, and then by the prisoners.

It seems that the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has no intention of serving and protecting the rakyat in the right sense of the word. This is contrary to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comments that the police would only turn aggressive if provoked.

And what does the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar has to say about the “we can whack anyone we want” modus operandi adopted by the police? Continue reading “It’s time to police the police force”

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Kalau tidak berbohong, bukan Umno namanya

— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
May 24, 2012

24 MEI — Kenyataan Rais Yatim yang jumlah kehadiran dalam perhimpunan Bersih 3.0 baru-baru ini hanyalah lebih sedikit dari 22,000 sahaja dan perkiraan beliau itu disanggah oleh penulis-penulis dan individu pro Umno dan BN. Sesungguhnya 22,000 itu hanyalah jumlah peserta yang duduk dari persimpangan Jalan Tun Razak dengan Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman sahaja.

Tetapi saya menyeru kepada sesiapa yang tahu jumlah sebenarnya (lebih dari 300,000 orang), supaya tidak melayan kata-kata Rais itu kerana beliau adalah hulubalang kepada Umno dan apabila bersama Umno itu banyak perkiraan sudah semestinya salah dan terlalu jauh dari kebenaran. Jika Rais mengakui jumlah peserta itu pada hakikatnya lebih dari 300,000 orang, maka beliau tidak akan dianggap sebagai ahli-ahli Umno. Umno memang begitu sikapnya… berbohong dan berbohong terus-terusan. Kalau tidak berbohong mereka tidak selari dengan “attribute” asas Umno itu.

Umno memang tidak merasa apa-apa jika berbohong. Berbohong itu ada satu kewajipan bagi Umno. Jika kita hendak menunjukkan bagaimana Umno nya kita itu, kita mesti berbohong kerana itulah Umno. Continue reading “Kalau tidak berbohong, bukan Umno namanya”

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‘BN’s clear and present danger’

Syed Jaymal Zahiid | May 23, 2012
Free Malaysia Today

Barisan Nasional leaders say they may lose out in the election if internal sabotage is not contained.

KUALA LUMPUR: A divided Barisan Nasional may spell the end of Prime Minister’s Najib Tun Razak reign in Putrajaya.

And this warning to the Barisan Nasional comes from non-other than Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.

The paper quoting party leaders says sabotage is a very clear and present danger and could lead to the BN losing more seats than in 2008. Continue reading “‘BN’s clear and present danger’”

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When Umno types prevaricate

— Othman Wahab
The Malaysian Insider
May 23, 2012

MAY 23 — This is what Umno politicians do when they get caught out: they huff and puff, spin some yarn and blow smoke all over the place.

Several months ago when websites reported that the government had instructed the Umno lawyer Hafarizam Harun (the same chap with the RM2.2 billion highway project with former Umno lawyer Tun Zaki Azmi) to seek an out-of-court settlement on Tajudin Ramli’s massive RM589 million debt to Danaharta, Nazri Aziz denied any such endeavour.

The de facto Law Minister dismissed all such reports. And then it happened, there was a secretive out-of-court settlement where the man associated with the fall of the national icon got a sweet deal.

Till today, no one knows whether he paid anything or if he received a free pass but the fact that the government has not been willing to disclose the terms of the settlement suggests he got a great deal.

After all, Tajuddin had enough ammunition to sink Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno. Continue reading “When Umno types prevaricate”

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Lim Guan Eng was only eight years old in 1969 but he has been accused in the “dirtiest” pre-election campaign in country’s history of being responsible for May 13 riots in Kuala Lumpur as DAPSY leader at the time

Two days ago, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad warned in Kedah that Malays would lose political power in the country if UMNO is defeated in the next general elections.

This is a lie, for if UMNO is defeated in the next general elections, UMNO would be replaced in Putrajaya not by DAP but by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition comprising PKR, PAS and DAP which is committed to a common policy framework to uphold the cardinal features of the Malaysian Constitution, including defending the role and responsibility of the institution of Constitutional Monarchy; Islam as the religion of the Federation while other religions can be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the country; the position of the Malay language as the National Language while protecting and strengthening the use of mother tongue languages for all races; and the special position of the Malays and the indigenous peoples including Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other races.

Mahathir knows that his warning that if UMNO is defeated, the Malays would lose political power was totally untrue and baseless – which was why Mahathir had campaigned actively for the defeat of UMNO led by former Prime Minister and UMNO President, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the 2008 general elections.

In fact, if it was true as alleged by some UMNO leaders that 47 out of 191 UMNO divisions were sabotaged during the last general election, a lot of thanks must go to Mahathir.

But what should interest all Malaysians is what made Mahathir to issue such a catastrophic and irresponsible prognosis about the next general election to arouse fear among the Malays? Continue reading “Lim Guan Eng was only eight years old in 1969 but he has been accused in the “dirtiest” pre-election campaign in country’s history of being responsible for May 13 riots in Kuala Lumpur as DAPSY leader at the time”

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When pseudo-Malays seek control

By Mariam Mokhtar | 4:49PM May 21, 2012
Malaysiakini

Umno believes that it represents all the Malays. It doesn’t. Millions of Malays have rejected Umno and without Malay support, Umno will become extinct. Bersih has awoken the Malays and therefore Bersih is Umno’s biggest threat.

The Bersih 3.0 rally forced the worst out of the Umno Malays last week: there were supposedly Malay traders who offered free burgers despite bitterly complaining about loss of income; ex-soldiers flashing their flabby posteriors, making us glad they had left the service; a senior police officer who mocked the law by condoning protests opposite private homes; a defence minister who believes he is above the law and has probably planned his escape in a submarine which cannot submerge, and a formerly ‘respected’ senator who resigned from his party and now tells us to accept corrupt politicians.
Continue reading “When pseudo-Malays seek control”

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Malaysia General Election: Will there be a 13 GE?

by Richard Loh
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I had posted an article in 2010 that He will win solidly if GE 13 is called any month within that year and I still hold my believe till the eve of Bersih 3.0. Even with His statement of ‘crushed bodies & lost lives’ and rumors that His special team reporting to Him that He may lose the 13 GE, I still believe He will win solidly.

But everything seems to fall into place post Bersih 3.0 indicating that He is indeed fearful of losing the 13 GE.

Surveys after surveys giving the same results that His popularity is gaining traction and many voters are returning to His stable. This is true but what we understand is that most surveys were carried out via telephone. I still accept the results and reading from political expert opinion I believe He will win solidly and that is up till the eve of Bersih 3.0 Continue reading “Malaysia General Election: Will there be a 13 GE?”

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Truth Will Out in Suhakam Inquiry

by Kee Thuan Chye
Malaysian Digest
Tuesday, 22 May 2012

We have witnessed much madness and asininity displayed in the aftermath of the Bersih 3.0 rally of April 28, especially exemplified in the laughable antics of anti-Bersih groups, such as hawkers’ group Ikhlas, the army veterans who shook their buttocks in front of Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasen’s home, and the Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council.

Some of it can also be seen in the comments on the rally made by government leaders, including Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim’s incredulous declaration that only 22,270 people took part in it. But most risible of all is the Government’s appointment of ex-Inspector General of Police Hanif Omar as chairperson of the so-called independent panel to investigate the violence that occurred on April 28.

So it is with considerable relief that we now welcome the decision of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to conduct its own public inquiry into the violence when earlier it had said it would wait for the Government’s panel. Suhakam decided to go ahead because the panel has yet to come out with its terms of reference, and also because it has received numerous complaints from the public about the police brutality committed during the rally.

This is a show of good sense amidst the show of puerile emotionalism by the anti-Bersih groups and anti-Bersih ministers. It restores faith in the belief that rationality still rules okay in our current tragicomic state. Continue reading “Truth Will Out in Suhakam Inquiry”

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Najib will be biggest loser in prosecution of Anwar, Azmin and Badrul, first case to be charged under Peaceful Assembly Act, as it will totally discredit his various transformation programmes

(Speech at the opening of the new Triang DAP branch building in Triang, Pahang on Tuesday, 22nd May 2012 at 3 pm)

I was in the Kuala Lumpur court complex this morning where the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR leaders Azmin Ali and Badrul Hisham were charged in connection with the Continue reading “Najib will be biggest loser in prosecution of Anwar, Azmin and Badrul, first case to be charged under Peaceful Assembly Act, as it will totally discredit his various transformation programmes”

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BN refusing to accept calls by Opposition and Bersih for reforming the Electoral Rolls

By Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP life advisor
22nd May 2012

Yesterday, Anwar, Azmin and Badrul were served with charges by police claiming that they incited the crowd to crash the Dataran barricade.

Unable to counter the rising tide of dissatisfaction of the people, and scared by the gigantic crowds at Bersih 3 demonstration, they are resorting to police harassment and fabricating baseless charges, like the ones against Anwar, Azmin and Badrul.

Najib and UMNO are refusing to listen to the demands of Bersih 3 and the Opposition.

They refuse to admit that the Malaysian Spring has erupted as shown by the gigantic gathering of some 300,000 demonstrators in the streets around Dataran Merdeka. The demonstrators were represented by all the races of this country, by young and old and by friendly smiling youths and the common people who are honest, simple Malaysians who want to show that they love their country, and they want clean and free elections at the coming elections.

PM Najib is best advised to listen to the voices of the Malaysian Spring. Arrests and fabricating false charges will not quell the unrest and dissatisfaction in the country.
Continue reading “BN refusing to accept calls by Opposition and Bersih for reforming the Electoral Rolls”

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Fallacies spun by critics of the Bar

— LoyarBurokkers (loyarburok.com)
The Malaysian Insider
May 22, 2012

MAY 22 — The Bar Council and the Malaysian Bar (“the Bar”) have been criticised recently as being pro-opposition. This is because of the Bar’s press statements and its extraordinary general meeting resolution regarding the police brutality shown at the Bersih 3.0 sit-down rally. The common theme adopted by critics of the Bar is that the Bar was not fair, or even-handed, as the Bar were more critical of the police than it was of the other parties involved.

Some of the more popular criticisms were summarised in Roger Tan’s article “Unswayed by fear or favour” which was also published in the Sunday Star on May 20, 2012. In summary, he says the following:

1. The Bar in condemning the police brutality must be equally aggressive in its condemnation against the protestors who “behaved like rioters and anarchists”.

2. The Bar had prejudged the issues by passing the resolution because by doing so “the Bar had already come to a conclusion that all those acts listed therein had been committed by the police”.

3. The Bar should have demanded an apology from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim because “it was his men who were reportedly the ones who removed the barrier” which was “the trigger point”.

This statement is written immediately in response to Roger Tan’s article, but also addresses others who have been critical of the Bar on this issue. We intend to address the second criticism first, then the third and first criticisms. Our reason for this will become apparent as our reply develops. Continue reading “Fallacies spun by critics of the Bar”

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Dr Mahathir and the selling of oxymoronicracy

— Sakmongkol AK47
The Malaysian Insider
May 22, 2012

MAY 22 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reiterated his advice for Umno leaders to discard self-interest and acts of sabotage to ensure a Barisan Nasional (BN) victory in the next general election.

There are two things that stuck out as very sore thumbs in the above statement. Both are never the hallmarks of Umno. Indeed if they are practised, Umno ceases to be Umno. They are the elimination of self-interest and absence of acts of sabotage. Asking Umno people not to sabotage and to disown personal interest is like asking a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Dr Mahathir does not only walk on water, he is also the chief spokesman for oxymoronicracy.

Since the creation of Umno Baru in 1988, every Umno leader who has assumed the mantle of leadership has been motivated by self-interests. What’s more, they are motivated by the desire to perpetuate the self-interests, where self-preservation is top of the list. It will be interesting to investigate these fellers’ bank account when they are no longer in power.

Sabotaging is second nature to Umno people, by incumbents who are no longer chosen to stand or by aspiring candidates scheming and plotting to overthrow incumbents. What is absent from Umno? A sense of purpose and a cause to fight for. So if we want an example of oxymoronicracy, Dr Mahathir is its foremost spokesman. Continue reading “Dr Mahathir and the selling of oxymoronicracy”

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Act of utter bad faith to charge Anwar, Azmin and Badrul for breach of Dataran Merdeka barricades

It is an act of utter bad faith for the Najib administration to charge the Leader of the Opposition, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR leaders Azmin Ali and Badrul Hashim for breach of the Dataran Merdeka barricades during the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28 when this should be one of the major terms of reference of a full and impartial inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 violence promised by the Prime Minister.

Did Anwar and Azmin give the signal for the crowd to breach the barricades, as the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein maintained in his interview with Sunday Star “The search for the real story” two days ago?

But the views of Hishammuddin (who has often confused his role between Home Minister responsible for security regardless of political party or persons and that of UMNO Vice President whose primary task is to demonise the Opposition however baseless and unprincipled) cannot be the basis or reason for the prosecution of Anwar, Azmin and Badrul, especially as Hishammuddin has given the country the assurance that an impartial and comprehensive inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 violence would be established to find out the truth of what happened on April 28.

The sudden and abrupt prosecution of Anwar, Azmin and Badrul in connection with the breach of the Dataran Merdeka barricades smack of mala fide on the part of the Najib premiership because it is clearly designed to pre-empt and avoid any independent, impartial and comprehensive inquiry into this important issue. This is all the more deplorable when the trio had strenuously denied giving the signal to breach the barricades, as borne out by video testimony. Continue reading “Act of utter bad faith to charge Anwar, Azmin and Badrul for breach of Dataran Merdeka barricades”

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We will not be cowed, says Bersih

S Pathmawathy | May 21, 2012
Malaysiakini

Bersih, the coalition for clean and fair elections, will continue with its nationwide roadshow despite a recent threat, co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said today.

“It was targeted at me, but nothing will change. Our campaign is about voter education and it will go on,” she said when contacted today.

Ambiga had been told to stay away from an event in Merlimau, Malacca, last Saturday after a number of local pressure groups lodged police reports objecting to her presence.

A group of angry individuals later pelted two DAP state assemblypersons and supporters with eggs and stones.

“In fact, acts like this are also part and parcel of voter education – it allows voters to make decisions as to whether this is the kind of Malaysia they want to live in. (It) allows them to decide if this is the kind of institution they want to vote for.” Continue reading “We will not be cowed, says Bersih”

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Najib jangan takut keluar dari Putrajaya

— Aspan Alias
The Malaysian Insider
May 21, 2012

21 MEI — Apa yang dikatakan oleh Dr Mahathir Mohamad di Jitra semalam mendapat perhatian saya. Beliau meminta supaya pemimpin Umno serta ahli-ahli partinya tidak sabotaj Umno dalam pilihanraya nanti. Beliau berkata yang beliau yakin Barisan Nasional akan menang jika semua pihak dalam Umno membuang sikap suka mensabotaj parti.

Kenyataan Dr Mahathir ini membuktikan yang apa yang saya katakan selalu yang pada PRU yang lalu lebih dari 1.5 juta ahli Umno telah mengundi parti-parti pembangkang dan telah menunjukkan kepada semua yang Umno sudah tidak lagi boleh mengaku yang parti itu adalah parti yang mewakili orang Melayu dalam politik negara.

Beliau pastinya memahami keadaan sabotaj menyabotaj dalam Umno itu adalah satu kenyataan yang hakiki. Ini ialah kerana beliau sendiri merupakan penyabo kepada Umno dalam pilihanraya dahulu ketika Umno sedang membuat persiapan untuk menghadapi pilihanraya ke-12 pada tahun 2008 dahulu.

Sabotaj yang dilakukan oleh Dr Mahathir sendiri merupakan salah satu dari banyak sebab kenapa ramai calon-calon Umno jatuh tersembam dalam pilihanraya umum itu. Dr Mahathir telah keluar dari Umno di saat Umno memerlukan penyatuan di antara semua ahli-ahli dan pemimpinnya. Continue reading “Najib jangan takut keluar dari Putrajaya”

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It’s not about Anwar or Ambiga

— Gomen Man
The Malaysian Insider
May 21, 2012

MAY 21 — Let me put an end to the fastest-growing cottage industry in Malaysia: attacking and demonising the likes of Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng, Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Millions of ringgit are being earned by bloggers, phantom writers, politicians, operatives, PR agencies and anyone with a plan or video or story to “damage” Pakatan Rakyat or Bersih leaders. The thinking from Putrajaya is that if these leaders are “killed off” then the momentum behind the opposition and those behind the call for electoral reform will be ended.

That is why the mainstream media has sunk to the lowest of low with lies and that is why the likes of Hasan Ali and Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim are being given unparalleled coverage by the Media Prima media group to hammer their former political colleagues.

But let me tell the patrons of videos, bum exercises, threats, etc the reality: the awakening of Malaysia’s middle class and urban population does not depend on whether Anwar is around or whether Ambiga is leading Bersih. Continue reading “It’s not about Anwar or Ambiga”

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My ‘yellow’ tale

By T L Cai | May 21, 2012

In my mind, April 28 was not going to be an ordinary day when I woke up just before noon. I had slept late after finishing work at midnight and spent some hours reading and pouring over Google maps to find the best parking space and plan my walking route to Dataran Merdeka.

I was full of enthusiasm for my first Bersih rally. It really felt good that I could add to the numbers. All week I was hoping that, in terms of participation, Bersih 3.0 would exceed the previous Bersihs. As it turned out, it was a resounding success and the rakyat delivered an equivocal message to the Barisan Nasional government.

I felt so good that even the usual transgressions on the road which, usually riled me, did not perturb me! I drove down Jalan Ipoh to try to reach Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, hoping to park in one of the many lorongs there but it was cordoned off.
Continue reading “My ‘yellow’ tale”

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Let restoration of decency and civility to politics and public life be top of the Cabinet agenda on Wednesday

Last Thursday, I had called for the restoration of decency and civility to politics and public life in Malaysia.

I had expressed concern at the rise of incidents of immoderate and even “uncivilized conduct” citing three examples within a week – the Perkasa “funeral rite” in front of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s house in Penang, the setting up of a burger stall in front of the house of Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan at Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and the utterly insensitive and deplorable “butt” dance by a group of armed forces veterans in front of Ambiga’s house.

The subsequent double cancellation by NGO WargaAMAN of a thosai stall outside the house of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar and the proposal by Ikhlas representing small traders to hold another protest outside Ambiga’s house were most encouraging, indicating that good sense and sanity were beginning to prevail in Malaysian politics and public life.

Unfortunately, this momentum for the restoration of decency and civility in politics and public life was broken by two incidents, viz: Continue reading “Let restoration of decency and civility to politics and public life be top of the Cabinet agenda on Wednesday”

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End the charade of an Hanif “independent” probe which is part of the “demonization” campaign of Bersih 3.0 as proven by Hanif’s anti-Bersih comments

The Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein started his interview on Bersih 3.0 with Sunday Star yesterday entitled “The search for the real story” with the following statement:

“Now that the temperature has lowered and emotions have subsided, we should look at the incident in a more rational manner”.

I studied Hishammuddin’s interview but could not find any evidence that the government or Hishammuddin at least is prepared to view the Bersih 3.0 demonstration in “a more rational manner” so that Malaysians, the government, police, civil society and the ordinary citizenry, can learn the right lessons from Bersih 3.0 and reach a closure with Malaysia taking one giant step towards the objective of “the best democracy in the world” – a goal purportedly espoused by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself.

In the past three weeks, the government failed to assure Malaysians and the world both by word and deed that there would be an independent, credible, thorough and legitimate investigation to find out the truth of what went wrong on April 28, the facts and causes of the incidents of violence and brutality, regardless of whether the victims were police personnel, media representatives or peaceful protestors.

These incidents of violence and brutality marred the Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur from being the most historic, momentous, unifying and empowering experience for Malaysians regardless race, religion, region, class, age or gender who gathered in peace and patriotism to support a common national cause for clean elections and a clean Malaysia. Continue reading “End the charade of an Hanif “independent” probe which is part of the “demonization” campaign of Bersih 3.0 as proven by Hanif’s anti-Bersih comments”