I must tell readers of AZAIG that I was not there at the BERSIH rally though I said I will go. I have a reason, or some may call it an excuse, but I shall let you decide.A few days ago, I got a checklist from the PR agent (yes, my quest for grass has commenced) and one of the thing needed was a police check to see if I have any records. Any arrest would tarnish that and my PR application would have been wrecked. I decided not to risk it, although I did don my Brazilian jersey and read to leave my house at 2pm.
That was my lame excuse, what’s yours?
Anyway, I am sure you all know by now who pinkpau is. I have linked her a few times before simply because I think she puts a lot of us to shame, and she has done it again. Not only did she put up another brilliant entry about the BERSIH rally, but she was actually there to march with the people. I particularly like one of quote from her…
“… this is truly the dawn of something great, we’re no longer succumbing to scare tactics, and this is a HUGE step out of the blind fear that Malaysians have been groomed to live in ever since May 13”
Indeed, we have all been living in fear and that is very understandable. But what I truly cannot understand is people living in what I call… blind ignorance.
I went on a blog hop trip this afternoon and was astonished to come across blogs which criticised the rally. No, it’s not the criticism which annoyed me, it’s the perspective they criticise the rally which totally threw me off my chair.
A few blogs said they missed their shopping trip and lunch appointments because they were stuck in a massive jam… and they blamed the rally. One letter was sent to a mainstream paper saying they he and his family missed the Chicago play; again because of the traffic jam. All these people are so comfortable living their lives that they feel their lives were intruded because of the rally. Had they been a little less ignorant, they will be aware of the rally taking place and stay at home.
Another few blogs talked about how their cars were damaged because of the rally. They were stuck in between the FRUs and the rakyat and their cars were given a free wash, water cannon style. The chemicals and the pressured damaged their cars and they are not happy. No, I am not going to link them.
How selfish can people get? Incredibly selfish… and they really disgust me.
You what other things which disgust me? The mainstream media, newspaper and tv stations alike. They behave as though they are in a competition to see who can come up with the best cooked up stories from the rally. From ‘no one showed up at the rally’ to ’4,000 at the riot’ to ‘police successful foiled the walk’… do they think we are stupid and still living on trees? Can someone please tell them what is IN-TER-NET. Bunch of morons!
Of course, nothing can beat our information minister. Check out the
Last but not least, I salute this young man. 22 year old and he was there for the march because he wants a better future for his future generation. Others might laugh at him but I salute him. Listen to what he has to say.
And we thought staying at home is the best we can do for our young ones huh?
51 comments:
What I don't get is how you people (and I mean the people who actually had the guts to stand by their principles and go) can talk about how this was a democratic march, and then belittle the people who critisized it!
If the majority of the people didn't go for it, that obviously means they don't support it! Isn't that much obvious? You call people like me ignorant - why? Who are you to decide what's best for me?
This is why I keep saying that it was nothing but a hypocritical farce!
I didn't see that many blogs condemning but yes, I read a few.
My personal thought is, nobody will view any individual any less for not taking part in the march. But then I sure hope these people afford the same kind of respect and courtesy for the decision of others who decide to do so.
Oh man...
It didn't dawn on me... I had lost track of the dates come Nov 7th... But I have been reading about this on Friday, the night before.
I certainly salute these folks who braved the rain for the march.
I won't criticize those who criticize on the rally. They probably didn't know better.
Based on the reaction from our leaders, I think some of us may know how/what to do in the next GE.
If you think carefully, 5yrs is a long time. It is a duration of a generation - coming out to work or going to study or even being born. So, it is not a short period of time.
Vote wisely..
The mainstream media is also disgusting me with those pseudo half-truth reports. Grrr... but then, call me selfish or what. I am under a govt scholarship so I better shut up my mouth.
hey zewt, i think i know which blog(s) you re talking about. Indeed it's saddening to know that sometimes, we are actually fighting for people who don't give a shit about their country, circumstances and future...most probably because their parents worked long and hard enough to afford them a shielded and comfortable lives. Oh well.
Everyone can disagree, but to whine on the basis of "shopping trips" is just lame.
The only disappointment is the fact that none of the mainstream media dare to even play a video or put a proper pictures of the march. And The Rakyat kena tipu lagi.
Sigh
Hey Zewt,
This is my first time hopping on your blog. When the mainstream media fails us. it's up to us bloggers, the New Media, to spread the awareness.
And we are indeed powerful, look at the recent UMNO assembly, take a look at Hisham, that was a far cry from his disturbing racist speech last year (what an understatement).
I was overseas! Fortunately Desi & Helen briefed me on the happenings to keep me informed.
zwet
respect your reasons. to each his own and i wish you the best and may the grass be greener on the other side.
once again, best wishes.
Neh...don't waste time with the ignorants. 40k crowd already enough to send chill down any electorally elected gov's spine.
the principle of democracy is that all citizens have equal political rights.its about having the right to take action and express your views.if you don't practice your rights,you should not complain that others doing it.
interview of our minister of no- information with al-jazeera.
minister:you come here and you want to project us as un-democratic country.this is democratic country.
al-jazeera:so why can't people protest if its a democratic country?
minister:first people protest.we are allowing protest and they have demonstrated.but when we try to disperse them and then later when they don't want to disperse.but later our police compromise.they have compromise and allowed to proceed to istana negara.police.. our police have succeeded in handling them gently,right?
why don't you report that and you take the opposition,someone from the opposition party,you asked him to speak and you don't take from the goverment,right?
*God save us,please*
You can clearly see that the crowd turned to be so big. Just imagine how many more out there who supported the rally but could not attend there are? I'm sure that it will exceed the turnout with a shocking figure.
Now I see the flicker of hope and success in this country. Salute my 40,000 fellow Malaysians who walked their talk for peace, justice and good governance! Bravo!
I find it sad how some people had no idea what the Bersih rally was all about and disappointed at some of the posts that I read - esp from friends who I tot would have been more liberal minded.
The mainstream media reported 4k but in actual fact the numbers were between 40,000-50,000.
Its also utterly embarrassing hearing a minister talking to international press with lousy English and his words all tumbling together so much so that you hardly know what he's saying. He was also extremely rude to the interviewer.
*sigh*
Ignorance and apathy is the typical Malaysian attitude. Things have got to change:
"You can't afford to be neutral on a moving train"
-Serj Tankian
Pardon my ignorance but what can the Agung do? I've always had the impression that he does not have any political powers.
Dear Vincent,
"If the majority of the people didn't go for it, that obviously means they don't support it!"
The same can be said about your conclusion. Can I reckon that those who didn't turn up for any festivities open houses also mean they don't support these festivities?
Just because people don't turn up doesn't mean they don't support it.
I know of many people who don't turn up simply because:
i) they are scared of the police and arrests,
ii)they are not aware of it but they still vote against the ruling party despite knowing the election is rigged,
iii) they believe this event will amount to nothing though they support the spirit/ideal of the cause,
iv) they got stuck in the jam while on the way there,
v) they believe this is opposition led and don't want to be associated with the opposition though they share the same sentiments as them.
and et cetera, et cetera (including supporting BN and such).
The point is, the majority have wide and differing opinions as to whether or not to go and I am sadden that many chose not to go simply because they are too comfortable with whatever they are doing. But that is their democratic choice and enshrined under the constitution where they are also free not to assemble and voice their grievances.
But to call it a hypocritical event is beyond me. On what basis are you calling freedom to peacefully assemble hypocritical? And if they want to assemble peacefully to protest for the cruel treatment of animals, are they hypocritical too?
Dear Zewt,
so that's the reason! hehe... you should have told me earlier! haha...
anyway, if you got arrested you could have stated you were fighting for your democratic rights i.e. application via political asylum... haha... just kidding.
the main thing is, despite the election being rigged, i believe we should still vote to voice our unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the way things are being handled. afterall, once all the means to resolve these grievances are exhausted, it will only be time before the system implodes.
I rally for greener grass everywhere! so shall we be expecting you in 2 years' time? ;-)
I salute pinkpau!
and really, mr Vincent, those people who criticized about the ralley belittled those who went, so what's wrong with those who support to do the same?
but zewt, there's one thing i worry though..the "leader" of the march is one of "them" too, i'm just afraid that one day this might become a "wantun" country, seriously, if i have to pao my head, i'd rather die..seriously..
okok..time for me to hoot this 9 9! =D
I felt bad not becoz i'm part of those blind ignorance pple, but for not being there at the rally... Hubby was away on business trip & I was left at home with young baby over the weekend. But then i also thought, if hubby was home, would one of us join the rally? I dont know...but since he's not in town, this was the best excuse for me...
Anyway, I really salute those who made their way to the rally...And really shame to those "blind ignorance folks"!
i land on sunday nite..didnt have a clue..too stoned to read yesterday..now frantically tryin to absorb wat is going on..dear me..
If the majority of the people didn't go for it, that obviously means they don't support it! Isn't that much obvious?
Actually, I award the above by Mr Vincent: "quote of the month".
Obviously, his reasoning has been squash to death by so many other comments that it is pointless to repeat. In fact, Mr Vincent may be lost somewhere doing his shopping! This sort of political discussions are probably not his priorities (at the moment).
And that says so much about where "the majority" of us are in Malaysia. Apathy and ignorance.
I suppose all of us ('enlightened' bloggers) should keep ploughing on and writing to battle the apathy and ignorance.
I am just glad I am in the company of the so-called "Yellow Revolution".
vincent, u and that nazri guy think alike... birds of a feather.
"majority rules and the rest u minority that marches are either 'pondan' or having loose wires"
our deep sympathy to your mrs/g'friend
I wasn't in KL during that time (left for Bahau on Sat), so I missed the rally. Not going to comment on that :)
Zewt, about the PR application, I'm guessing you're applying under skilled migration? My brother-in-law and his wife applied since July, and till now there's no news other than their application had to be delayed for three months because of the sudden influx of applications under skilled migration.
I'd suggest you to send ALL the documents needed at one go (e.g the character check and health check) rather than wait step by step (i.e send application form first, then police check, then health check, etc), because it's going to take AGES for the application to go through.
All the best! I'm still sniffing my new visa. Hehehe :p
thanks to ur blog-hopping efforts, i now see that the malaysian mentality is worse than i thought. so sad... i pity these ppl who are so self-absorbed, i reli do :(
and no thanks to our ministers, who fumble their way around on international tv/radio etc, it is no wonder that foreigners think we (msians) can't speak proper english. when i first came to aus, the locals were amazed at my command of the language. now i see where they get their stereotypical view from.
malaysia reli "boleh"...-_-
I seriously did not know bout this till my hubby told me after he came home from work on saturday afternoon. I haven't been reading you-know-where for quite sometimes because I was busy doing "something" haiz...
Anyways, not everyone knows whats going on and they dont really care about politics that much like some of you do (or me at times). People here are very ignorant, and very in their comfort zone... till petrol price goes up again then thats the only thing they would care about... why it happens or what makes tat happen, they couldnt care less... they'll complain for that moment of time and then back to same old routine, they wont give no farks bout it...
To those who went, i salute you... i wish i was there to join... now the whole world knows whats going on in Malaysia, and what a shame we've become to the others. At least the others knows whats going on on our side. May this would change our country to be a better one... not now.. but soon...
At the end of the day, what matters most is whether the people who didn't turn up will instead show their support at the ballot box. Wouldn't that kind of success be what the BERSIH organizers hoped for?
I was so shocked when I read the news in Bangkok, they showed a picture of Anwar Ibrahim on top of a mass group of people shouting.. but then the first thing that came into mind was "ABOUT TIME!"...
I applaud the lawyers who marched to the PM's office and I am even more applauding this rally... We have been keeping silent for too long...
IT IS TIME.......
The local media reminds me of scene in V for Vendetta where a girl was saying "bollocks" towards a news statement that said "Guy Fawkes" has been killed by the authorities. That was exactly what I said when I saw the "perhimpunan haram digagalkan oleh polis" news.
honestly, i'm not sure if i'll be out there supporting this....unless i know there will be a difference if it is done...
not saying that this Bersih Rally wont work..but lets just wait and see...
"If the majority of the people didn't go for it, that obviously means they don't support it! Isn't that much obvious?"
best reasoning I ever read.. :) dude, i think you need to reread the post. he never belittle anyone, unless you happened to be one of those he mentioned as blind ignorance people - those who were not aware of the rally and criticize it because it jeopardies their comfortable life, shopping time etc. from what you wrote, you were aware of the rally, just you didn't support it, but that's your choice.
i will never belittle those who didn't go for the rally, or those who do not support the rally cause. each of us entitle to our opinion. but to think of how some people can be not aware of what's happening around the country, it's damn funny. the local dailies already reported the planned rally. people around you sure some of them are information savvy, kepoh enough to tell you, or you overheard the news. but still some people oblivious of what happened. what can i say? oh aware of what is going on does not mean one is supporting it, ok :) it's totally unrelated. it's just if you aware of it, and you think it will affect you, please make plans for that and stop blaming people for it.
and what's wrong with criticizing people for their beliefs/opinions? it's part of the debating and discussing process no? as long as it's done in a good manner, what is the problem? hmm, because not every malaysians went for the rally, so it means that majority do not support it??? there are maybe people supporting it but there were afraid to be there or they were busy doing their shits. To some people it's a democratic process that had been stifled by the government for long, and some will think it is just a bunch of crazy people gathering together, or some always don't have any clue what on earth is going on. choose your side :)
vincent - i think someone made a comment... those who didnt show up doesnt mean they dont support the rally... enough said.
Helen - indeed... to a certain extend, this is somewhat human right...
Angie Tan - lost track? woooaaah.... ok la, i think that's not as bad who asked me today...why so jam last saturday ah? WTF!
lynxx01 - well, i cant blame u... most of us are. that's why many stayed at home and let the rest do the dirty work.
rational thinker - mainstream media has no balls. but i cant blame them, cos their paymaster is u-know-who. but i really wonder, how do those newscaster n reporter sleep at night?
dan-yel - hey... welcome to AZAIG. indeed... that's our role.. to bring the what they call 'lies' to these ppl... and the ppl will decide which to believe. thanks for dropping by and kudos to u.
Maverick SM - wooaaah... holiday eh?
anon @ 1.31am - thanks... but i think it's still a lame excuse.
whisperingshout - indeed. and i am sure there will be more to come.
penang-kia - dont even mention that fella here... me and my colleagues were just talking about him. how he can be our information minister is so damn beyond me. but then again, it's malaysia after all.
CRIZ LAI - my friend who was on the way back from seremban said cops stopped along the highway. a lot were supposed to be there and didnt make it.
puvanan - hi and welcome to AZAIG. next time, we should join them huh ;)
Iced Nyior - yeah, i know how it feels when ppl think of the rally as a nuisance simply becos it interrupted with their cmfortable life. sigh...
Jason Phoon - indeed... and the train is certainly moving... :)
flaming lambo - according to the constitution, he can do a lot. the thing is whether he wanna do it or not.
anon @ 7.55am - hahaha... brilliantly said. you took the words from my mouth really. we must know what is the meaning of democratic...
anon @ 7.59am - somehow, i know who you are... hahahaha...
may - maybe less than that haha...
Huei - hmmm... dont la so critical again. i think on that day, no matter who they are... we were of the same objective. as for the country turning that dreaded way... yeah, i think many would rather die.
sharlydia - only 1 question, will u let your husband go?
Josh - hahahah... looks like i just made vincent dude quite famous... indeed... quote of the month. vincent, i cant help u on this one.
anon @ 2.26pm - woooaah... nasty... nasty...
Tine - nope, i am going under spouse visa... but i am sure it's still not easy anymore as plenty are flocking over there.
Jun - yeah... when our infomasyen milister spit lidat, how liu expat lhem to beelii we can spit good inlish?
constant craver joe - dont worry mate... i am sure u have plenty of time to absord all these things.
Calvin's wife - dont worry, you're still ok. i had dinner with my colleagues just now and some were totally unaware why there was a massive jam last saturday, u cant beat that.
anak merdeka - well, we can only continue to hope.
bensiu - indeed... IT'S ABOUT TIME!
anthraxxxx - our mainstream media is a shame shame shame shame!
l y n n w e i - indeed... but while waiting, maybe we can also do something by blogging a bit about it?
bongkersz - for a while, i tot you were scolding me hahaha... until u clarify that with me. well, you're right, everyone is entitled to their own rights and opinions... we all live in a free world which should grant everyone a right to do that. and that is the reason why those fella have the right to cause traffic jam hahahaha...
Our "beloved" minister cannot even speak proper English, and there he was, condemning other countries...Damn stupid...
the phone interview, interesting.
so are they going to ban international news channels now?
zam zam the dumb dumb --- quoted from the comments page of the vid. indeed stupid!
well this is the typical politician we hv in malaysia. atrocious english, terrible anger management, shallow insights, baseless verbal attacks on others, irresponsible on spoken words ETC ETC. no wonder they say the local parliament is a human zoo negara. cudnt hv agreed more!
you may be disappointed as i am no longer anon...:)
There are pros and cons to the rally but i say, if it's done without considering other people's safety as in, some shops get broken into and giving time for some other criminals to carry their heinous job coz more than 3/4 of the police force are so worried of a peaceful rally?
How about instead of causing more traffic jams than it always has been, we make a gigantic yellow turnouts everywhere in malaysia be it wearing yellow while driving, shopping, going to the theatre/movie, bacially display whatever yellow for the whole day! I call it a "united we stand" band. And we can keep on continue doing that till the authority jadi mabuk and feeling nauseous coz too much of yellow everywhere!
I say lets do thing without giving more opportunity on them people to rebuke and scaring the whole nation! I say lets do a reverse psychology and think much2 ahead. For just one day. And we can continue doing that for any other day in other month. And what else can we do other then to go voting for who we want to lead.
More brain than brawn, i say.
PS: so far, it was ok for KJ to crash into american embassy frontyard and scream from the top of his lungs during condi's visit, but definitely a "forbidden" act to do just that for any other reason we all knew.
Hey Zewt, that's because I changed the setting so that instead of a popup, the page itself changes... do i ans ur question? thanks for telling
YAY. Free Advertisement for Digi!
i was in melaka... meeting future in-laws...
but... perhaps, i will wear yellow on saturday from now on...
anon @ 11.11pm - stupid is an understatement.
DLG - it's interesting... CNN and BBC failed to show it live but Al-Jazeera managed... wonder why.
kyh - when u have ppl of such intellectual running the country, arent we afraid?
myop101 - well well well... whadayaknow...
Manal - the yellow project is already on... happening every saturday... let's see whether it will happen. as for that demonstration when that rice woman was here... well...that's what you call hypocricy.
dan-yel - no worrie.
Jon Chu - now... every saturday even.
k.h. - that's a good thing. me too.
If this was held over at east melaysia, for sure I would go..such a shame its in KL =(
now digi no need to have its yellow mans running around because many will do it free after 10 eleven haha! free publicity. maybe digi should use one of the clips from 10-eleven in its adverts. name is as 'yellow fever' haha!
Haha!
If you claim to support the event and didn't bother turning up, I have nothing further to add on the hypocrisy.
Thank you for proving my point.
but dear vincent, you have not replied why is the BERSIH rally THE hypocritical event of the year?
While you conveniently brush aside any dispute to your untenable remark by picking on zewt, I fail to see how both are connected in such a manner that the BERSIH rally became as you alleged it to be, the hypocritical event of the year.
if the event rest on zewt shoulders alone, i can understand it but it doesn't. and neither is the cause which ordinary folks are fighting for rest on his shoulders.
so then, could you repeat what made you conclude this is the hypocritical event of the year?
water_angel - sure? kudos to u...
bongkersz - hahahaha... yeah man. then the gomen will ban digi.
vincent - no comment.
myop101 - it's good to have a defender... haha...
myop101: If you hop over to my site, it is all explained clearly.
zewt: What? No linking of my post this time around?
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