Why I support Bersih

Why do I support Bersih?

Because I support free and fair elections. Because I believe in concepts like democracy and freedom. Because I think that there are certain rights that have to be upheld. Free and fair elections are requisites for any country claiming itself to be a democracy. It shouldn't even be an issue. 

The government claims elections in Malaysia are already free and fair. But are they? During elections in Singapore, all parties are allowed to have party political broadcasts. I don't think that is available here. Over the years there have been consistent allegations of "phantom voters" and problems with the electoral roll which have not been satisfactorily put to bed. The mainstream media is still skewered towards the government. Campaign periods are pretty much decided at the whims and fancy off the ruling party. And these are just some of the simple electoral reforms that Bersih were calling for. No one talked about how Pakatan Rakyat won just over 35 percent of the seats in parliament when their vote share was at least 10 percent more than that. 

The government claims that the direction of Bersih had been hijacked by desperate opposition politicians, seeking to consolidate their popularity which had appeared to be on the wane. Perhaps, that may be the case. But is that reason enough not to support the cause? Not to me.

Conversely, to me the government has shown an incredible degree of hypocrisy over the matter. They claim to not be against free and fair elections, yet they haven't shown any indication that they are willing even to consider the eight demands made. 

They also said that they were agreeable to the gathering being held in a stadium. Yet when Bersih yielded to that, their permit application to hold their rally in Stadium Merdeka was rejected. And then the government decided to lockdown KL. Now, one of the government's major reasons for opposing the march in the first place was that it would adversely affect business in the city, and they still blame Bersih's demonstration for that happening. Yet wouldn't their blocking of the major roads in the city center also kill business? They don't seem to be holding their hands up on that.

The government may think that people are still a flock of sheep. But education, increasing affluence, as well as comfort with social media has meant that things are quite different nowadays. It is not that I do not appreciate what I have today. It is not that I am ungrateful. The government are absolutely right when they say we are a lot better off than we were 50 years now. We have come a long way since independence.

But, if we keep comparing ourselves to countries below us, than we are never going to improve, never going to move forward. Are we ungrateful when we want a more advanced handphone or camera? The same applies here. I am thankful for what we have achieved, but should that stop me, or other young Malaysians from wanting even more and even better. Whatever happened to never resting on one's laurels?

I still believe in democracy, because I think that this system gives citizens a stake in how the country is run. Critics will talk about tyranny of the majority, and that democracies eventually become popularity contests. But, no matter how big one's majority, or how popular an individual or party, that popularity will not last forever.

What is more, being a democracy requires much more than just holding elections every five years, contrary to what a former Information Minister might think. Elections need to be held on as level a playing field as possible. The right to free and fair elections, along with freedom of speech, are examples of those rights. Free and fair elections will not solve all the problems the country faces. But what it will do is make leaders accountable to the public. That is at least a start.

That is why I support Bersih. Not because of my position on the political spectrum. Not because I support any one party over the other. Not because I just think its 'cool'. I support Bersih because I believe in democracy.