Rage against the Machine

Aliran

Zooming in on what is going in Malaysian society in the aftermath of recent demonstrations organised by lawyers, the Bersih coalition and Hindraf, Khoo Boo Teik observes that the goodwill that was shown to Abdullah Badawi in 2003-2004 has largely evaporated. Is there is a whiff of reformasi in the air now?

Is Reformasi back in town? Possibly; it may have returned this year with three marches that brought some new names, a lot of new actors, and a number of new ways of saying things.

Bar Council, Bersih and Hindraf

The Lawyers’ March of 26 September was led by the Bar Council. The marchers headed for the ‘Palace of Justice’ in Putrajaya, calling for the head of the then Chief Justice. Exasperated with the ‘rotten state of the house of Denmark’, the protesting lawyers and social activists demanded an end to the corruption, hence subversion, of a key institution of state.

The Bersih Rally of 10 November was organised by Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections). From different locations in Kuala Lumpur, the rally wound its way to the Istana Negara to hand a petition to the King. Bersih’s participants demanded a cleansing of the electoral system to break the crippling shackles the Opposition faces in every general election. More...