PRESS STATEMENT BY
TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG. Justice of Peace.
Chairman – Social Care Foundation
The whole country has been debating the Bersih 2.0 rally planned for July 9. Perkasa says it is going to stage a counter rally. Umno Youth is planning a rally of their own. The police say that Communist elements are involved and have started arresting people. The Home Minster has threatened to use the ISA against the organisers and others. The prime minister has said that the rally is a calculated move to unseat the government by force. Business people have come out in protest that the rally will disrupt their businesses and make life hard. All over a failed dialogue between Bersih 2.0 and EC pertaining to the Rakyat to demand a free, clean and fair elections.
I need to highlight the fact that the rally by Bersih 2.0 maybe staged by peace loving Malaysians but with the fact that Perkasa has decided to stage a counter rally which means anything can happen from that stage and if there is a group of shit-stirring, instigating and provoking each other. The situation can turn out to be disastrous and beyond control. Business will be interrupted, innocent lives may be lost. A situation where we should avoid.The EC have said that they are prepared to meet with Bersih 2.0 to sort things out. Bersih 2.0 has said that it is futile to talk to the EC because they have tried to do so in the past without any results. Since the EC has offered that the Door is open for discussion, I appeal to Bersih 2.0 and the group to seriously indulge and engage with the EC.
To explore better ways to settle their difference and to seek meaningful results, because all of us do not want to see the Rakyat heading for a showdown. Under all circumstances, COUNTRY MUST COME FIRST. It is a common feeling of the Rakyat, that since EC has open the door for discussion, Bersih 2.0 should take it up and exhaust all the efforts, otherwise the Rakyat will ponder the reasons for the refusal of Bersih 2.0 to discuss with EC.Why don't we try this instead? Bersih 2.0 accepts the EC's invitation to talk at a date, time and place set by Bersih 2.0, with the understanding that should nothing new come out of the talks the rally will go on. And the government and police will then allow a peaceful rally to proceed. Bersih 2.0 will need to prove once and for all that it is NOT politically-motivated. The government is given the chance to prove that it is.
It is in everybody’s interest that Bersih 2.0 and the group should engage with EC as to explore every chance to avoid this dangerous confrontation. Bersih 2.0 and the Group, please therefore drop the call for the rally and proceed to discuss with EC.
We all love peace and support it in the most orderly manner.
We pray.
TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG. Justice of Peace.
Chairman – Social Care Foundation
The whole country has been debating the Bersih 2.0 rally planned for July 9. Perkasa says it is going to stage a counter rally. Umno Youth is planning a rally of their own. The police say that Communist elements are involved and have started arresting people. The Home Minster has threatened to use the ISA against the organisers and others. The prime minister has said that the rally is a calculated move to unseat the government by force. Business people have come out in protest that the rally will disrupt their businesses and make life hard. All over a failed dialogue between Bersih 2.0 and EC pertaining to the Rakyat to demand a free, clean and fair elections.
I need to highlight the fact that the rally by Bersih 2.0 maybe staged by peace loving Malaysians but with the fact that Perkasa has decided to stage a counter rally which means anything can happen from that stage and if there is a group of shit-stirring, instigating and provoking each other. The situation can turn out to be disastrous and beyond control. Business will be interrupted, innocent lives may be lost. A situation where we should avoid.The EC have said that they are prepared to meet with Bersih 2.0 to sort things out. Bersih 2.0 has said that it is futile to talk to the EC because they have tried to do so in the past without any results. Since the EC has offered that the Door is open for discussion, I appeal to Bersih 2.0 and the group to seriously indulge and engage with the EC.
To explore better ways to settle their difference and to seek meaningful results, because all of us do not want to see the Rakyat heading for a showdown. Under all circumstances, COUNTRY MUST COME FIRST. It is a common feeling of the Rakyat, that since EC has open the door for discussion, Bersih 2.0 should take it up and exhaust all the efforts, otherwise the Rakyat will ponder the reasons for the refusal of Bersih 2.0 to discuss with EC.Why don't we try this instead? Bersih 2.0 accepts the EC's invitation to talk at a date, time and place set by Bersih 2.0, with the understanding that should nothing new come out of the talks the rally will go on. And the government and police will then allow a peaceful rally to proceed. Bersih 2.0 will need to prove once and for all that it is NOT politically-motivated. The government is given the chance to prove that it is.
It is in everybody’s interest that Bersih 2.0 and the group should engage with EC as to explore every chance to avoid this dangerous confrontation. Bersih 2.0 and the Group, please therefore drop the call for the rally and proceed to discuss with EC.
We all love peace and support it in the most orderly manner.
We pray.
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