Protests and Political Change

– Khoo Ying Hooi
The Malaysian Insider
June 20, 2013

Saturday 22 June marks the 15th Black 505 rallies since the May 2013 polls. One of the key aims of the protest is to press for the resignation of Election Commission members following the alleged irregularities and rampant electoral fraud during the 13th General Election. Just recently, the Co-Chair of Bersih, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has also conceded that perhaps taking to the streets could be the only way left in order to fight for electoral reform in this country should its extensive campaigns through legal channels to clean up the electoral system fails.

Bersih as the pioneer in electoral reform has so far held three massive protests in the past since 2007. Although the protests had drawn international attention and condemnation to the current administration, but the actual reforms have yet to be seen. For example, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform (PSC) that was established in 2011 was seen as a good move, however there is no follow-up mechanism for the lengthy 22 recommendations.

This time around, regardless of the numerous warnings issued by the police including possible arrests under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, the organizer has decided to go on with its plan. By taking to the street again, it shows that there is a serious lack of public confidence from the citizens to the governmental institutions. The persistence of protests such as the 505 rallies, even in the face of state repression, indicates that the ruling regime fails to respond to the popular demands.

There have been on-going debates on the protests and the rule of law. Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. For centuries, protest is the channel that people who have a beef with authority figures have been getting attention from. Protestors should of course do what they can to behave in a lawful manner, but they should not be denied of their rights to do so.

During the 2011 Egypt uprising for example, protestors have created a 26-page pamphlet called “How to Protest Intelligently”. As the social media sites were shut down, so the protestors circulated the copy via e-mail or in the form of hard copy. The pamphlet began with a listing of six goals for the country, followed by strategic goals and general ways the protestors could take action. The pamphlet also contained practical advice, such as the suitable attire and equipment that a protester needs.

Noam Chomsky, the influential and outspoken American political philosopher has recently expressed his support for the Turkey protestors via video with a banner saying that; “I am also a çapulcu in solidarity.” Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan branded the protestors as çapulcu, or looters.

While many questions the effectiveness of protests, it is rather narrow to assume that protest activity is problematical in nature, just because it does not lead to immediate reforms or obvious consequences. History demonstrates the relevance and impacts of protest actions. Protests do matter simply because that is the way to get their voices heard and potentially to have impacts on the varied audiences.

The outbreak of political protests signals to the incumbent leaders that the regime faces a crisis of legitimacy, however confronting the status quo is a difficult business. Therefore the success of a protest lies on its capacity to actually boost institutional reforms and bring about new political alternatives. Otherwise, there is a risk that once the protestors grow tired and losing the momentum, those in power will tend to revert to their comfortable status quo.