SEPT 4 — If the target in #Bersih4 was for those gathered to stay the full course of 34 hours in a carnival-like setting peacefully, then last weekend’s festival was a resounding success. 

But if the focus was to achieve political advancement in the lead up to the 14^th General Elections, then Bersih 4 bordered on failure. 

While the previous Bersih rally managed to drive the scene of Malaysian politics to its tipping point, Bersih 4 did not have a concerted focus to be able to push the current government over the edge at the next polls.

As much as we would like to believe that the rally had a Malaysian flavour to it, let’s not kid ourselves. 

As we stand, Malaysian political parties on both sides of the divide operate in manner which falls back on ethnicity, especially in election campaigns. 

What affected the turnout has to be addressed, including the possible involvement - or lack of - from PAS.

In addition, the numbers were lower than Bersih 3 and definitely no where close to half a million.

The predominantly middle class turnout signifies that the clamour for change is not across the board. 

Malaysia’s working class which make up large portions of the semi-urban and rural population might not have got the brief from Bersih. 

I was in a local talk at a Malay-majority village, all of whom did not turn up at Bersih, which at first, surprised me. 

But after listening to their concerns - which ranged from the point of attending a rally, the fear of being detained, to not knowing the demands from Bersih - I understood where they were coming from. 

In the end, 25 out of the 30 persons present at the talk agreed that Malaysia needed to change its Prime Minister, but that the government should remain because they had no confidence in the opposition. 

And that says a lot. 

For one, parties on the opposition front have — thus far — failed to convince the Malaysian electorate which is out of their comfort zone. 

Much effort is being expended to convince the converted, while the fence-sitters and naysayers are being ignored almost completely.

But that should actually be the focus!

And that was probably the same issue with Bersih, in that the drumming was done through a rock & roll track, while the larger audience was yearning for a more sensible soundtrack, one which would not put off the undecided. 

As I wrote in a piece before the rally, the turnout and events surrounding it will not have applied the desired pressure on Prime Minister Najib Razak. 

The premier could in actuality, take this as a false vote confidence from those who did not turn up to Bersih4 and further his crusade to knock Malaysia out of shape. 

If we do not go back to the drawing board, GE14 could already be a write-off.

* Jay Jay Denis is a policy analyst at Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation, a Malaysian research organisation, as well as being a member of the recently formed Demi Malaysia coalition.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.