Are rallies capable of toppling the government?
This article has earlier appeared in Beritadaily.com on 24/8/2016
The question here is, are rallies here in Malaysia capable of overthrowing the BN government as alleged by many BN leaders, particularly of those from Umno?
What specific or concrete evidence do they have to immediately implicate that these kind of rallies were deemed violent and attempted coup similar to those which had taken place in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia or Egypt?
Are these BN leaders losing confidence on their own capabilities and leadership until they have to resort to such idea that someone out there are attempting to topple their administration?
If so, they are clearly admitting their guilt over their failure to run this nation in a proper manner which now sees mass dissatisfaction by the people over their rule and policies.
Is this why they are now using whatever means to crackdown on any kinds of criticism, dissent and opposition to their rule? Is this why they are now using various security or preventive laws on the pretext of curbing “terrorism” to purge the entire nation of any critics, dissidents and opposition figures?
The BN leaders should sit down and ask themselves right now, whether their actions are democratic or otherwise. They should ask, why are people condemning their administration all this while, instead of purging those who oppose them and trying to get rid of freedom of expression.
They should ask themselves why support for BN has been eroding and why did they lost their two thirds majority in the last two general elections.
As far as we have been observing, those people who have been participating in civil rights or opposition rallies to protest against various injustice, human rights violation and to demand institutional reforms were peace loving men and women who were all concerned of the deteriorating situation of this nation’s state-of-affairs, frustrated with the current system and policies, the current economic uncertainties, political instability, corruption, power abuse and mismanagement within the government framework, which are all affecting their incomes, livelihood and families.
These rally participants were merely ordinary patriotic Malaysians who wanted to know the wrongs this government has committed to this nation and why such negative elements were still continuing and pulling our nation backwards.
The people has their every right to demand explanations from the government on their various misdeeds such as corruption, power abuse, mismanagement or any scandals exposed.
And rightly, these people has never had any attempt nor plans to topple the BN government even if they had known of the many crimes committed from within, instead, these peace loving people would still prefer to vote for change at the ballot box despite knowing many unjust electoral.
Prove your innocence
We are not saying that the Bersih rally or whatever rallies are useless and ineffective because such will not bring about any changes of government or the ruling party. The objective of these rallies are not to topple any government but to serve as a strong reminder to the current government and the ruling party of their actual responsibilities to our people.
Peaceful rallies, demonstrations or just a simple show of dissatisfaction over certain issues are parts and parcels of a democratic process which the government of the day should respect. This is the fundamental right of our people.
Leaders with true democratic principles will allow peaceful rallies to carry on, will go down to the streets, hear their grievances, note down the various issues highlighted and then provide adequate answers, counter-proposals or solutions instead of mobilising a nationwide crackdown onto such.
Leaders with democratic principles will never allow nor sponsor any counter-rallies to disrupt or challenge other peaceful rallies or demonstrations to provoke the situation into chaos.
Leaders who uphold democratic principles will also never accuse nor label any peaceful rallies and demonstrations of any attempt to topple the government of the day.
We would like to ask the BN government and their leaders again. You have all the powers, all the equipment, all the most sophisticated and modern weapons, armours, armed personnel and the police force at your disposal. Do you intend to use all these security assets of yours against the people on the pretext of national security and prevention of terrorism when all such have never even exist in the first place?
If you claim yourselves to be “democrats”, come out and face the people with facts, figures, explanations and evidence that you are not wrong. If the RM42 billion was never swindled or misused, make public of all the findings, accounts and transactions.
A true democrat will never accuse any rallies or demonstrations of any attempt to topple the government.
