Reflections on Bersih

It was exhilarating, inspiring and humbling to have been part of the recent Bersih 4 peaceful assembly for reform from August 29-30.

Of course, I am no stranger to such gatherings but it always feels like the first time, every time.

It was wonderful to march with hundreds of thousands of Malaysians from all walks of life and backgrounds.

This was despite threats and intimidation from certain parties.

While we were of different ethnicities, faiths and socio-economic classes, spending those two days in Dataran Merdeka drew us even closer together than before.

We showed our country and the world that not only are ordinary Malaysians hungry for change and tired of the abuse of power, but that we can express these sentiments in a peaceful manner.

Kudos must go to the organisers and police for the wisdom and restraint they showed that weekend.

Bersih 4 is sterling proof that freedom of assembly can be exercised responsibly in Malaysia, as long as there is will from both the public and the authorities to facilitate this.

Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – no friend to civil liberties – thought it was a good idea to show up – but that’s another story.

Organisers should be freed

Of course, it is very regrettable that Maria Chin Abdullah, my PKR comrades Sim Tze Tzin and Lee Chean Chung as well as the activists Mohd Fariz Musa, Mandeep Singh, Adam Adli Abd Halim have been charged under Section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 for the earlier #KitaLawan rallies.

Former PAS Youth Treasurer Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar has also been charged with sedition.

It is highly irresponsible of the government to waste the courts time with such frivolous charges.

I repeat, again, my firm belief, in good faith and with all due respect, that the Court of Appeal decision in Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad vs PP means that no Malaysian can be hauled up for so-called “illegal assembly”.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his administration should consolidate the democratic gains we made and stop these politically-linked prosecutions and persecutions.

The wave of international media coverage – which was entirely in favour of the demonstrations – should that the world, and history, is on the side of Bersih.

The accused have my full support and I am confident both the truth as well as justice will prevail with their eventual acquittal.

The Malay participation issue

At the same time, the usual suspects have tried to racialise the Bersih protest, claiming that Malay-Malaysians stayed away and that the affair was exclusively dominated by Chinese-Malaysians.

I personally do not believe this was the case, at least from where I was.

I was at Dataran on both days and honestly, there were Malay-Malaysians wherever you turned.

At any rate, the Malay traders – who sold food, drink, paraphernalia and those loud vuvuzelas – did roaring business that weekend.

Also, just because there were less Malay-Malaysians doesn’t mean that they don’t necessarily support change.

We are also a subtle people, after all.

And even if it was dominated by just one ethnic group: so what?

Chinese-Malaysians, city-dwellers and liberals are all citizens of this country.

Their concerns are just as valid and should carry equal weight as anyone else.

It’s the 21st century, people. What kind of country are we if we continue judging people by the colour of their skin and not the content of their character?

What’s more upsetting is that certain elements are allegedly trying to organise a “counter-demonstration” on Malaysia Day, September 16 of all days.

I will be the first to concede that they have a right to gather – just like those who showed up for the Bersih protests.

But no one has the right to cause fear and threaten others.

We hope that the authorities will be consistent in how they handle the situation.

The question does arise though; Bersih united Malaysians: what are these people trying to accomplish?

But we cannot have double standards.

I only ask that these individuals keep in mind – if they do indeed demonstrate – that the people will be watching and judging their actions.

Do progressives have a Malay problem?

Nevertheless, the issue of Malay participation in Bersih highlights the challenge that the movement for change in Malaysia faces.

Fairly or unfairly, there is a perception that the Malay community is reluctant to countenance political, social and economic reform.

In the current popular parlance, Malaysian progressives have a “Malay problem”.

This is serious because, as noted, it gives opponents for change the opportunity to play the race card.

Also, the demographic realities of Malaysia mean that any reform or change – no matter how sensible or necessary – will be unsustainable without Malay support.

I, for one, believe that the community is slowly but surely changing.

The inevitabilities of globalisation, the opportunities for political participation created by the 2008 watershed and genuine concern with the negative direction our country has taken is waking Malay-Malaysians up to the fact that we cannot go on as we have.

The Malays, after all, have never been a stagnant people.

No one should doubt our capacity to change for the better.

Take no one for granted

But Malaysian progressives must also realise that the community – like all others in this country – is becoming politically-dynamic.

A voter – Malay or otherwise – isn’t going to necessarily support reform just because he or she is young, or middle-class, or lives in Bangsar.

For that matter, an elderly, rural voter isn’t always going to be locked into one side either.

The challenge is for progressives – especially in PKR, DAP and the newly-forged Parti Amanah Rakyat – to forge a message that can appeal to all Malaysians.

The fact is that voters will look for even the flimsiest excuse not to vote for us.

More often than not, many find one or just make one up.

We must present our message in a way that makes it impossible for them to consider any other alternative.

That is why Tony Blair, Barack Obama and Joko Widodo were able to sweep to power.

Their messages were so compelling and universal that voters who would never have voted for their parties in a million years had no choice but to back them.

The way forward

So what is to be done?

A lot has been said about how we need to close the “rural gap”.

I will say this to the opposition critics: it’s not as easy as you might think.

For one, logistics (that is to say, actually reaching the voters) is often a problem, especially for the remote areas in Sabah and Sarawak.

The DAP’s Impian Malaysia initiative is welcome but to be honest, only scratches the surface.

Also, social control is much stronger in rural areas, particularly in Peninsula Malaysia.

The opposition has often been prevented from campaigning in these areas.

Until these difficulties are removed, the reality is that the opposition will be operating at a severe handicap when it comes to rural seats.

However, this makes the need for a coherent yet universal message all the more urgent.

Many Malaysians still have a “kampung” to go back to.

It is this group, the so-called “urban villagers”, i.e. recent migrants to the cities, we have to win over.

They are aspirational but are not always cosmopolitan in their values.

Can Malaysians who want change help us come up with a message that will appeal to them – which they can take home, but which will also resonate in the cities and suburbs?

Can you help us figure out new ways to manage our economy and communal relations?

Can you find ways to increase mutual confidence, respect, trust and acceptance between Malays and non-Malays, Muslims and non-Muslims? Within the Malay and non-Malay communities themselves?

Can you help us forge a campaign platform that will win the support of both urban and rural areas, of both men and women, West and East Malaysia?

Can you outline a future that will herald socio-economic progress and mobility for all racial and religious groups?

Doing this will not be easy.

It will also take time.

Often, that dreaded “C” word, compromise, will be necessary.

But we must begin.

A challenge for all Malaysians

It would be a very good thing if the Malay-Malaysians could drive or even lead this process.

Indeed, as Bumiputeras and Muslims, we have the responsibility to do so, to ourselves and our fellow citizens.

Malay-Malaysians, whether in the kampungs, the tamans or kotas, must ask themselves: will what we have gained in the last few decades last if we cling to a discredited, failing status quo?

Are we happy with what has gone on in our country these past few years?

Our fellow Malaysians have stood up to demand that our leaders be accountable to the people.

What is our stance on this?

What do we believe in?

What do we want for our faith, community and country?

For our children?

To all Malaysians, I say this: Bersih 4 was a great achievement.

It can lead to even better times for our country if we are patient, willing to give-and-take and have a clear vision on how to move our country forward. – September 13, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.