Better to hold Bersih rally after Merdeka

WHILE I know many people can relate to Bersih’s cause and reasons for a rally, I, however, feel strongly that it should not be held on the eve of our Independence Day.

Aug 31 is a designated date to mark the day all the people of this land stand together as a nation after gaining our independence from British colonial rule.

It is the anniversary of the historic day when our first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra read the Proclamation of Independence followed by shouting “Merdeka!” seven times.

That was the day we gained freedom from the colonialists and the right to self-rule as masters of our own nation. In simple terms, our nation’s birthday.

Thus, this weekend which precedes Merdeka Day on Aug 31, should be marked with events that symbolise the UNITY of the Malaysian people across the nation, not a demonstration which is DIVISIVE.

Can we all for one weekend, on the occasion of our national day, think and behave as Malaysians first instead of focusing on our discontent and resentment for the government or the ruling party?

It will be an affront to the sacrifices and memory of our former leaders such as the Tunku to mar the great day with an anti-government rally.

While the organisers of Bersih 4.0 will claim the rally will show how united the protesters are in pushing their cause, it can certainly not be called a cause shared by every single Malaysian. Otherwise, against whom and what are they protesting, if everyone is already with them?

More importantly, although the organisers of the rally have reassured the public that it will be a peaceful assembly, it cannot be denied that frankly, many people share the view that there is every chance of the rally turning ugly.

All it takes is a spark to ignite a highly charged situation like Bersih into an ugly scene. All the previous Bersih rallies are proof of this. For example, when some Bersih protesters charged and dismantled the police barrier to enter Dataran Merdeka in the previous rally, the authorities reacted and the rally turned into an ugly riot.

So why take the chance of marring our National Day by having a potentially explosive situation, not just on the eve of Merdeka Day, but in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka?

Do we want to make world news for the wrong reasons?

Malaysia will be a laughing stock to the world at large if our national day is marked with demonstrations and riots instead of events to demonstrate national unity and success, as showcased by Singaporeans at their 50th national day recently.

If they can really find no other weekend in the year to hold an anti-government rally I think the organisers can at least compromise and move the venue to some stadium or other as the authorities and some other people have advised.