YOURSAY ‘Paul Low, it’s about a change of the PM, not of dismantling the gov’t.’

Bersih rally a mini 'Arab Spring', says Paul Low

Sinan Belawan: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low, you are insulting both Malaysia and the Arab Spring.

Bersih is not Arab Spring, a revolutionary movement that began in Tunisia and spread through the Arab world due to economic hardship, political oppression and the quashing of civil rights.

A Bersih rally for free and fair elections is no Arab Spring.

CQ Muar: How could you possibly equate Bersih to the Arab Spring? This is absolutely off the mark and absurd.

In our case, the purpose and message of Bersih 4 was clear (no need to elaborate further), and was intended to be a peaceful demonstration of all races, including the old and young.

Low, you're far from being minister material, and do not deserve to address your audience with such a base analogy. I’d quit, if I were you, unless your ministerial position is too much for you to sacrifice.

LEF: The purpose of the Bersih assembly is to tell the current government of the day to behave itself, and that the rakyat is fed up with the country’s leaders. This includes people like you, Low.

Likening Bersih 4 to the Arab Spring revolt is overestimating its intentions. If it were so, you wouldn't be issuing silly statements like these from your office. You would be out on the streets - replaced.

Basket Case: Yes, they are all suffering from ‘derma’-titis (donation-titis).

Speaking Sense: When the rakyat lose confidence in the prime minister and his government, when he is unable to explain his actions, when there is a massive culture of corruption at the highest level, when the country is suffering economically, socially and politically because of his actions and the encouragement of extremist racial and religious groups, what is so wrong about the people asking for a change of the prime minister and government that is clearly out of its depth, to take this country out of impending disaster?

BumiKita: The Arab Spring was a protest movement aimed at overthrowing the government. Bersih was peaceful rally with no intention of overthrow the government by force but to show the rakyat’s concerns. There were no arms, only peace-loving rakyat.

Restless: "If you assemble against corruption and injustice, it shouldn't be a problem," said Low.

That was precisely what the rally was for. It's asking for the resignation of one person who has RM2.6 billion in his bank account. Isn't that corruption and injustice?

Low, why are you defending the indefensible instead of acting in the interests of the people? What collective responsibility are you talking about? Or is there a collective conspiracy?

Anonymous #44199885: I expected more from Low but obviously that was too much to expect from a man who touted that his personal agenda was to rid corruption.

Calling for the premier to resign for the financial scandals surrounding him and his wife is not an Arab Spring.

The people are fine with a BN government as it was elected into power but they are not okay with a premier who is scandal-ridden and who has used his office to undermine the independence of state institutions.

People came out on Aug 29-30 calling for a change of premier. None asked for the BN to resign from government. Low is a disgrace to his office.

Oxymoronictendencies: The only reason the government needs to be dismantled if PM Najib Razak resigns, is if the rest of the government is as corrupt and deceitful as Najib appears to be.

In which case, the government should be dismantled as quickly as possible.

Hplooi: This is former president of Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) speaking. He is blind, deaf and dumb on corruption, transparency and integrity in government. He cannot see the irony and serious disconnect in his statement with the reality on the ground.

He is also being disingenuous (meaning dishonest) when he refuses to accept that nobody is talking about changing the system (viz. Westminster democracy) but about changing a corrupt government which has corrupted the system.

Maplesyrup: If Najib goes, another Umno leader will be premier, so what is the problem with that, Low? Are you afraid that the new premier will not renew your contract?

Also please talk logic. Bersih 4 demands that Najib steps down, but federal power will still be with BN.

Anonymous 2345281441082001: It is indeed odd for Low to give such a reply in the International Anti-Corruption Conference (ICAC).

Given the fact that Najib dismantled every instrument he set up to probe his alleged corruption, how do you uphold parliamentary democracy without demanding the accused to step aside?

Anonymous_1419577444: Low, I am shocked that as a former chief of TI-M and now, the so-called minister in charge of transparency, you are not able to differentiate between Arab Spring and Bersih 4.

I hope the international participants of ICAC see through the hypocrite that you are.

Not Convinced: Low, the only ‘Arab’ about Bersih 4 is the mysterious Arab ‘donor’.

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