PETALING JAYA, Aug 15 ― The thousands expected to attend the Bersih 4 event at the end of the month represent the public’s “vote of no confidence” against the prime minister, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said yesterday.
“Bersih 4 is the manifestation of the people's choice to call for a vote of no confidence on Najib. People must rise and not be afraid of the government anymore,” she told the 300-strong crowd at the rally’s launch last night.
But Chin added replacing Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the prime minister was not the only goal, as current scandals will repeat themselves without adequate reforms.
“If whoever replaces Najib denies the people the right to voice out, the people will take to the streets again in Bersih 5, 6 and 7,” she said.
The launch event was attended by national laureate A. Samad Said, former Malaysian diplomat Noor Farida Ariffin, PKR's Tian Chua, Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) chairman Mohamad Sabu and DAP's Teresa Kok.
A representative from PAS’s Unit Amal volunteer group, Kamaruzaman Mohammad, also spoke at the launch.
He said that “PAS fully supports all the demands made by Bersih. PAS will be with anyone who makes demands for the justice of the people”.
The launch for the overnight rally on August 29 and 30 saw speeches from various activists like Lawyers of Liberty (LFL) lawyer Michelle Yesudas and activist Hishamuddin Rais.
Hishamuddin in his speech said he was “inciting” the people to take the streets against the current administration, which has been silencing the voice of the people.
“In the current climate, to speak the truth is dangerous. In times of oppression, speaking the truth is a revolutionary action.
“The people have to go to the streets, we have no choice,” he yelled out to the audience.
The launch last night also saw local band Bangsart performing songs on Bersih, deceased DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock and the Sedition Act.
The Bersih 4 rally scheduled for the end of the month is to be an overnight rally with attendees camping at Dataran Merdeka for 36 hours.
The march to Dataran is to start at five gathering points which include Sogo, Pasar Seni, Dataran Maybank, Brickfields and the National Mosque.
Bersih this time in its manifesto has highlighted a clean electoral, saving the national economy and reforming national institutions.
