KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 ― Umno leaders should set aside political differences and join the Bersih 4 rally this weekend as it is the “highest expression” of loyalty, nationalism and patriotism, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said.
Speaking at a gathering in Klang, Lim insisted that Bersih 4 is an integral and important part of celebrating the country’s independence, saying that the rallies planned nationwide must be embraced as part of the Merdeka celebration.
“The Bersih 4 overnight rally in Kuala Lumpur, which is expected to be bigger than Bersih 1, 2 and 3, is in fact the highest expression of loyalty, nationalism and patriotism for Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, gender, age or politics, reaffirming the united national resolve to ensure freedom, justice and national unity in the country.
“Bersih 4, with its objective ‘Save Malaysia’ to prevent it from becoming a rogue and a failed state, is an integral and important part of Merdeka Celebrations,” Lim said in his speech, the text copy which was made available to the media today.
Lim also chided this year’s Merdeka theme of “Sehati sejiwa” ― Malay for “In one heart and soul” ― as being narrow and exclusive, saying it should instead be inclusive and embrace Bersih 4’s theme to “Save Malaysia”.
The veteran lawmaker’s statement echoed the one made by Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin Abdullah yesterday, where she said the rally is the people’s way of celebrating Merdeka by calling for reforms.
Lim also urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to respond to his open invitation to Bersih 4, suggesting for Najib to hold face-to-face dialogue with the organisers and it principal supporters on the state of democracy, economy and good governance in Malaysia during the rally.
“Najib’s appearance at Bersih 4 will be a momentous message to the nation that the government and the opposition can put aside their political differences and stand on the same common platform to ‘Save Malaysia’ ― and may be a new turning point for Malaysia to avoid the horrors of a rogue and failed state,” said Lim.
The Gelang Patah MP’s remark was made in response to a blog post by minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak yesterday, where the latter claimed that Malaysians have lost their spirit of nationalism.
Ahead of the rally scheduled just before the Merdeka celebration, the communications and multimedia minister said Malaysians are not prepared to sacrifice their political differences even for one day.
The Bersih 4 mass gatherings in Malaysia, which is to go on overnight, will kick off this Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
The five demands of the rally are clean elections; clean government; right to dissent; strengthening parliamentary democracy and saving the economy.
