it was saturday, july 9, 2011. the day i had waited for, also anticipated by many malaysians. it was a day when supporters of Bersih (an NGO - The Coalition for Fair and Clean Elections) were to walk peacefully in support for a clean and fair elections. the first time it was held was back in november 2007 which saw thousands of ordinary malaysians take the streets for the same cause. back then, at least 50,000 people turned up and were greeted with tear gas and water cannons by the FRU. and this time we had anticipated the same thing, except much worse as the police were already going beserk a week prior to july 9, by making sweeping arrests on individuals associated to Bersih and even those found to be wearing or selling the yellow Bersih tshirts.
three days before D day, the police were already carrying out roadblocks at highways and roads leading into the city centre. our Prime Minister had pretty much suffered a memory loss (note the sarcasm), a selected one i must say, as he refused to decide on granting Bersih the Merdeka Stadium to rally in, instead of the streets as he had offered earlier in the week. he had then passed the buck to the police, call it having no balls on his part to take responsibility. the police reacted by refusing a permit for the rally to be held and ignored the olive branch extended by those heading the rally, and instead started making indirect threats with statements such as "i cannot guarantee any loss of lives on the day." the govt controlled mainstream media began parroting the leader by warning people from attending the rally and from wearing anything yellow. ridiculously, the IGP warned the public that they will be arrested if they are not only found to be wearing or selling the shirt, but also if they are wearing or seen to be promoting anything in the colour of yellow, be it a bag, shoes, even buses...how ridiculous can someone get? the police and media went on a fear mongering mode, intimidating the public, while roadblocks were making life hell for commuters and those who had to drive in and out of KL for work and other matters.
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during the heavy rain at one of the hotspot areas where
my brother was |
by friday evening, traffic was a havoc and the media issued news that the bus stations and LRT stations would be shut down. i had earlier planned on leaving at 11am on saturday from my parents' place together with my older nieces. however saturday morning came and we were not even sure what we could do, afraid that we could not get into KL as it had pretty much been locked down. not being sure of how to get access into KL, i was at my FB Bersih wall all morning, either helping to update on latest news or giving morale support to those going or already there, and keeping abreast with the latest news and info. i decided to ask if there were LRT stations that were open and upon passing on the info to my brothers, i decided once and for all that i had to go. by hook or by crook, i had to be there to give my support to Bersih and show our corrupted govt that they cannot in any way intimidate us.
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| the massive crowd |
by the time my nieces and i met, it was already almost 2pm and i was restless because i did not want to miss out on the action. we boarded the LRT at kelana jaya station (the last point in PJ) and had planned earlier what to say to the police if we get stopped (many got stopped and bags and cellphones checked just to ensure they were not going into KL for Bersih). i didnt dare carry anything that could connect me to Bersih just incase i get stopped and blocked into entering KL. i wanted so much to take along my yellow shirt with me but i would rather get into KL wearing a different colour shirt than not to get in at all. so there we were, all four of us, without anything to prepare us for the worse of the rally, no towels to protect us from the tear gas, no salt to put into our mouth incase of water cannons, just faith and spirit accompanying us to look and join our Bersih comrades.
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the heavy handedness of the police- - note the
guy on the ground |
we got down at Dang Wangi station and, lo and behold, we were there right on time to join a massive crowd walking and chanting opposite of the station. i was high in spirits just looking at and hearing them. we crossed the street and quickly got into the crowd. they were chanting "Hidup Bersih" (Long Live Bersih) and "Hidup Rakyat" (Long Live the People) and we joined in. the group made a u-turn as they received news to head for KLCC (where our famous landmark of the twin towers is) and we followed the leaders chanting all the way. everyone was in high spirits and i turned to see many of all ages and races. there were malays, indians and chinese and my thought went to some of my racist friends who were so sure that the non-malays would not turn up, and wished i could make them see what i was witnessing (regardless i think they are too racist to care). there was a malay man who might have sprained his ankle sitting at the roadside and was attended to by a chinese guy, people of different races and religion walking next to each other, making conversations, striking new friendships, and chanting the same words, such contrast of what the government and the racists in the country were trying to portray. i was a little worried about my brother who was caught in hot spots in KL where tear gas was released and he had in one or two occassions felt the sting, and had to run to escape, but went back to join the crowd, not in any way held back by any fear he was feeling.
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| our group at the intersection of KLCC |
we walked pass the renaissance hotel, the saloma bistro, the tourist centre and it was all good. the leaders controlled traffic, asking us to make way and ensured everything done peacefully and in order. we passed by a row of police officers behind barriers and we waved at them, made peace signs and started chanting "Peace, peace, we want peace." some of them smiled back and just looked at us, not too sure if some actually did wave back. we got to the intersection of KLCC and the leader instructed us to sit but we kind of loitered around a bit, booing each time the helicopters hovered over us. and when the opposition leaders who are associated with Bersih turned up and stood on top of a car, we were asked to sit down.
it was such a massive crowd, i could hardly see the rest beyond. we cheered and chanted accordingly but being quite a distance from the speakers, and with no hailer, we could hardly make out what was said. by then, one of my nieces was feeling a little faint and we decided that it was time to head for the LRT and make our way out. it was after 4pm anyway and i was told that many other groups in other areas had begun to disperse if not done already. there were several people also who decided to leave and we walked towards the KLCC entrance and all of a sudden we heard the helicopter again followed by shouts of "lari, lari" (run, run). we knew then that the FRU were there and maybe some police were already behind us. as we ran, we found that the security at KLCC had barricaded all entrances and refused to allow us entry. we ran around and i had to think of a safe place to get my nieces to and was worried that my sick niece would not be able to run fast enough or might pass out. as my brains went into a "pressured thinking" mode, a stranger working with KLCC or Isetan, i cant actually quite remember pointed us the way to escape. we followed the lead with some others and ran around to find one entrance at Isetan retail store still open. we ran in and were greeted by shocked looks of the sales people. we quickly headed for the 'ladies' as i needed to have my niece sit and rest. not sure of what was going on outside but pretty much expecting the water cannons and tear gas to be unrolled full steam outside, we found out that we were locked in Isetan due to security reasons. hungry and tired from not having any lunch, and curious about what was going on outside, we waited and pretended to be shoppers though i think some of the sales people actually suspected us as "dissents" from the demonstration. after almost half hour, we were let out but found that the LRT station at KLCC had been closed down. after a quick bite, we headed outside not quite knowing what to expect. the scene outside was of calm with many loitering around, and we knew just by the exchanges of looks between us, that we had all been involved in the earlier demonstration. there were no taxis in sight, neither were we expecting any because of the lock down of KLCC area. we had to walk to find an area where we hoped we could locate taxis or some form of transport to get us back to PJ. it was almost 6 by then and we were actually passing by groups of FRUs on horses complete with their riot gear, and groups of police officers in their uniform, and others whom we "know" were in the Bersih group with us. some were just sitting around, perhaps figuring out how to get out of the area, and some walking "aimlessly" like us heading in all sorts of directions.
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| my brother and the new multi-racial friends he made during the rally |
when we were at ampang park, where many had gathered with some just looking at the FRU group across the street (trucks, horses and what nots), i found out that the LRT station there was open, alhamdulillah. there was a long queue to purchase the tickets but it moved fast enough. it was a relief to finally be on the LRT and along the way, more supporters boarded at different stations. we knew they were supporters as much as they had probably known the same about us. somehow after that long day of fighting for the same cause, and eventhough we were not clad in yellow, there was that same look that we shared. the look of satisfaction that we had defied the government's effort in trying to intimidate us, in trying to break us apart, in trying to incite hatred amongst us of different races and religion. instead of all that, it was a day when we united, when we turned up despite the threats and heavy roadblocks and lock down of KL, and what a multi-racial turnout it was.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was reported to have said "When you see kemunkaran (evil), fight it with your hands (meaning, rise up in opposition). If you fear to fight it with your hands then fight it with your mouth (meaning, speak out against it). And if you still fear to fight it with your mouth then hate it in your heart. But those who only dare hate it in their heart is the sign of a very weak Muslim."
i am glad that i had gone.
In the third part of an exclusive interview withMalaysiakini on Thursday, the novelist and poet with his distinctive long white hair and beard, related his experience in trying to submit the Bersih 2.0 memorandum for free and fair elections to the Agong during the mass rally. 
Once assembled there, the Bersih leaders held a press conference (right). The gathered started to move out of the hotel towards their goal, at which point Samad found himself sandwiched by riot police at the KL Sentral underpass along with several other Bersih and Pakatan leaders. “When tear gas was fired, we were trapped, like at Tung Shin (hospital)… we had no choice but to go through,” he said. 
“I lost my chappals when I was hit by tear gas; it was chaotic. I ran to a wall to cover my nose and to find my water bottle and towel,” he said. “I had to walk barefoot. There were stones on the ground. The other demonstrators offered me their shoes; one even offered me a Nike. I thought it was a nice pair of shoes ... I could not take them. 
The final lap
“I was tear gassed too; I felt like I was going to die due to my age. I went prepared with water and salt but I could not use them. “There were people left and right gasping for air, asking if I had water. I gave them mine, and later other protestors gave me theirs,” he said. 
