TMI: Focus on the issue, Mr PM — by Lucius Goon

Focus on the issue, Mr PM — Lucius Goon

TMI: April 30, 2012

APRIL 30 — It is so predictable and so sad that instead of taking stock of the fact that more than 200,000 Malaysians turned out on Saturday and that violence was only caused by a small number, Najib Razak has chosen to talk about Bersih organisers breaking a promise to hold a peaceful assembly.

The smart thing for the PM to have done was acknowledge that despite the tons of money paid to APCO, FBC Media and his various teams of advisers, there is a serious disconnect between his rosy picture of Malaysia and the reality. But no, he had to play the tough-talking chief, talking down to the people who turned out in numbers for clean elections.

Get this, Mr PM. Yes, there were rally-goers who stepped over the bounds just as there were cops who thought they were putting down some intifada.

YouTube has enough clips of groups of cops beating up individuals (I suppose cops are only brave in numbers) to suggest that blame cannot be apportioned on one side only.

Point is that tons of Malaysians who turned up want clean elections, clean electoral rolls, etc.

You and your colleagues can try and divert attention from the real issue at hand but the big loser will be you and the Barisan Nasional.

You may believe that announcing the minimum wage today will give you a breather. It won’t.

Many Malaysians have a moral compass and will not accept a loaded electoral system where the top election officials are Umno members!

You may believe that announcing the ETP, GTP or some other so-called reforms will impress urban Malaysia. It won’t.

Malaysians are far ahead of your party in terms of integrity and sense of right and wrong. They will not tolerate a loaded electoral system.

You may believe that the rubbish being thrown out by your media on Bersih will influence opinion. It will not.

* Lucius Goon reads The Malaysian Insider.