YOURSAY | ‘One should not be surprised at the crackdown on the eve of Bersih 5.’

Bersih office raided, Maria and Mandeep arrested

Kim Quek: PM Najib Abdul Razak must be in a state of complete panic to have done what has never been done before in this country - arresting leaders of an impending peaceful assembly without the flimsiest of legal justification and locking down almost the entire city hours before the event.

Why be so panicky when this rally is not expected to even approach the size of the mammoth crowd amassed in the previous rally?

Do not underestimate the resolve and courage of Malaysians. Barbaric crackdown begets fury and defiance. It will awaken the conscience of even the apathetic.

This is the time when all Malaysians must stand up for what is right and reclaim the country from the clutches of the cruel and the corrupt.

Aries46: Malaysian Official 1 (MO1), his band of desperado hangers-on and his enforcement lackeys openly gambled on the provoked violence of the red-shirts to strike fear on the rakyat to stay away from Bersih 5.

Jamal Md Yunos and his band of clowns, some who claimed not to know why they were there, were given full impunity by the authorities to wreck havoc and intimidate Bersih convoys and supporters into submission.

But yet again the embattled kleptocracy-renowned Najib underestimated the anger and determination of the masses who are paying the price of his 1MDB debacle. Finally in fear and desperation, he has rolled his last throw of the dice.

He has let loose his enforcement bullies on Bersih leaders Maria Chin and Mandeep Singh thus exposing his hidden hand to the whole world.

Odin Tajué: One should not be surprised at the crackdown on the eve of the Bersih 5 rally. The authorities executing the arrests have merely been following the law.

The wording for Section 124C of the Penal Code has been erroneously drafted due to the standard of English in Malaysia being generally not up to par.

What the technician meant to write was as follows - Whoever attempts to commit an activity detrimental to piratical kleptocracy or does any act preparatory thereto shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 15 years.

Dizzer: I would love to see Samuel Jackson, in full ‘Pulp Fiction’ mode, standing in front of our corrupt leaders, delivering his wonderful misquote from Ezekiel:

“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men... And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.

“And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”

Let me tell you about Steven Gan

Anonymous 29051438068738: Thank you Commander S Thayaparan and everyone who has written in or spoken up in support of Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan and his colleagues committed to "telling it as it is".

In every way I can think of, the man is the diametrical opposite of the fellow Malaysians cursed to refer to as "PM".

If ever there is to be any sort of redemption for this cursed nation, it has to come through one such as him. And if history has anything to teach us, it is that he, like truth, will triumph in the end.

The marmoreal words of the Mahatma Gandhi perhaps provide the only flicker of hope in these darkest of times:

“Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.”

Aries46: Well said, Commander. I have admired Steven's journalistic prowess, his penchant to present the alternative view and his unflinching courage and integrity to 'tell it as it is' regardless of clout or personalities ever since his editorial days at The Sun daily in 1993/1994.

That subsequently prompted my subscription to Malaysiakini and I have not seen any change in his professional ethics of presenting the truth.

Therefore, the ridiculous charges against Steven is obvious. Truth has become the victim of the corruption and scandal-ridden Najib regime that has survived thus far merely by cover-up and lies.

Anonymous_1400076912: Thank you Steven Gan for your guts and conscience. Thank you Malaysiakini.

Because of news reporting without fear or favour, we can judge for ourselves what is right or wrong, true or false, just or unjust, and act accordingly as concerned citizens in this blessed land.

Thank you so much for giving us this space to express ourselves for a better Malaysia.

Vijay47: Who is Steven Gan? Yes, indeed, who is this lazily dressed often unkempt Chinaman, sleeves insouciantly folded halfway up his arm, a shave or tie unheard of? A chicken rice seller, a lorry driver, an engineer, a lawyer, heavens a politician?

He is and could be any of these but insanely, he chose to be editor of what Umno sees as the biggest threat to democracy, elections, and the way of the true believer, Malaysiakini.

And what is the biggest sin of this sinner? That he dares to publish the truth, unconcerned that it might favour government or opposition, unbothered that sensitivities would be pricked, comfort zones intruded into.

If he and his Malaysiakini write about the Maria Chins, the Bersihs, and the Kit Siangs, he just as generously writes about the Jamals, the IGPs, and the Najibs.

The truth within is a wicked rapier, caring not about friend or foe, about who emerges shining and who in shame. And for this he is a criminal?

So conditioned have we become that any report where Umno or Najib or Rosmah or similar sacred institutions come out less than glowing must be condemned as an attack on freedom and evidence of being tools of the Jews, the Christians, the Chinese, and a host of other dark forces who would make Steven Gan their tool.

Cometh the moment, cometh the man, the woods are lovely, dark and deep, but you have promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep.

I am sorry, Steven Gan and Malaysiakini, I cannot, dare not, do much for you. I can only stand afar and silently support. And admire.

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