Thursday, July 14, 2011

Bersih2.0: It's Government Clampdown that Created Chaos

Dr Chua Soi Lek needs to be educated that it’s “authoritarian” governments, and not “democracy” movements that cause loss of investor confidence

According to our Tourism Minister, Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Malaysia's tourism industry incurred over RM100 million in losses due to the Bersih 2.0 rally last Saturday.

Her MCA President, Dato’ Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek went a step further, claiming that the damage from Saturday’s Bersih rally far exceeds RM100 million as the street protest adversely impacts investor confidence and tourism. He said foreigners unfamiliar with Malaysia will be swayed by the chaotic mammoth rally’s footage and reconsider investment plans or travel in the country.

“The loss is in terms of confidence, the loss of the image of Malaysia as a peace-loving country,” he told reporters yesterday.

Dr Chua Soi Lek appears blind to the fact that the “chaotic” mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur was caused, first by the unnecessarily violent and aggressive tactics deployed by the police force against peaceful demonstrators. “Chaos” was only created when the Bersih supporters needed to run helter-skelter for cover when the police fired rounds of tear gas and liberally showered them with chemically-laced water.

Secondly, it was the Barisan Nasional government who refused permission for Bersih to use the Merdeka stadium as originally compromised, resulting in the supporters having nowhere to go to express themselves by the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Corresponding to the 2-points above, it was the BN administration which decided to “lock-down” the city causing the alleged losses, if it is even anywhere near a plucked from the air figure like RM100 million. Had the police force cooperated with Bersih to work out a route for a peaceful march, none of the above “chaos” would have even occurred. In fact, had such cooperation taken place, the businesses would have thrived in the city centre, promoting domestic tourism.

The MCA President continues to speak the language of authoritarian governments seeking to preserve their tenuous hold on political power by arguing that street rallies will affect investor confidence.

In fact, in the week leading up to the Bersih rally, the Bursa Malaysia Composite Index completely brushed off the economic impact of the rally despite the relentless threats made and doomsday scenario painted by the Government. The Index had in fact increased from 1582.35 on Monday, 4th July to 1594.74 on Friday, 8th July.

It should also be noted that in other developing and developed countries, frequent peaceful and democratic rallies in these countries such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan have not in any way dented their economic performance, which remains the envy of countries like Malaysia.

Dr Chua Soi Lek should stop trying to mislead the rakyat with tired tales and threats. He should instead embrace democratic principles and speak up for the man-on-the-street, instead of talking down to them, or he should be prepared to go down in history as the worst performing MCA President ever come the next general elections.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Misled or not, he is going down in history as the worst performing MCA President ever .... both in GE and morally.

Anonymous said...

They are reading from a script prepared by a PMO that have no clue what they are doing. Clowns giving instructions to clowns result in well ... CIRCUS-CIRCUS!!!

Silent Majority said...

BN so called leaders will not stand down as long as their top dog is still defient, in self denial mode. That's how it is and that's how it will be. The rakyat still have a long battle ahead. Fortunately, ther are still a lot of righteous Malaysians who sacrificed to ensure the future of Malaysia, a Malaysia that all can be proud of.

We, responsible Malaysians can play our part by propagating the stories and sacrifices of tens of thousands Malaysians who fought for fair and just and their democratic right on 916.

I honestly believe the time is right for all Malaysian to stand out and be counted.

Lee Wee Tak said...

I don't trust any numers quoted from BN administration. They can't count properly, can't prepare a budget properly, can't manage the actual spending properly, can't disclose the proper national debts and certainly can't count attendees properly?

6,000? maybe the police can count only up to 6, and put 3 zeros behind the embarrassemnt.

RM100 million? can CSL give a breakdown, basis of assumption and calculation worksheet?

Lee Wee Tak

Knowledge is power said...

There are silent groups. Small number at rally doesn't matter.

Knowledge is power said...

Much ground work has to be done in rural areas of Sarawak and Sabath to expose how rich is Taib.

These rural people do not have electricity and computer to see how rich is Taib. Please see www.sarawakreport.org

Seeing is believing, let the long houses peole see via projector and laptop or print out.....