Art Harun asks everyone to hit him. Kinky.

I am going to be unpopular with this post. But I feel strongly about it and I just have to put my thoughts on this issue.

I know there are many many videos of buses allegedly ferrying foreigners to polling stations on 5th May, the polling day. There are reports of “Bangladeshis” or people who look like Bangladeshis/foreigners being interrogated while lining up to cast their votes. There are also videos of people who are supposedly being paid off by what appeared to be agents of Barisan Nasional.

And almost 95% of netizens, I dare say, conclude that there was massive fraud during GE13.

We therefore attended rallies to question the GE results. Anwar Ibrahim vows not to stop rallying until the BN is forced out of Putrajaya. Today I read somewhere a threat to “go to the streets” to force BN out.

Frankly, I think this is SHEER MADNESS.

The election laws are there. You have 21 days from the gazette of the results to file election petitions. Prove your case in the election courts and get the results annulled. It is as simple as that.
I know. I know. The Courts cannot be trusted, right? haven’t we heard of this before?

This is the same Court which acquitted Anwar Ibrahim; the same Court which held Utusan Malaysia to be liable for defamation on countless occasions; the same Courts which annulled JAWI’s action against Borders; the same Courts in which Rosli Dahlan won his case etc etc.

The election laws are tough, that I know. They are tough because the basic premise is that the result which is being challenged is a result of VOTING. Therefore unless there are cogent reasons and reasons which could stand the scrutiny of the laws, that results stand and MUST STAND.

So, if there is evidence — evidence which satisfies the burden of proof — then by all means, file a petition and get it heard.

Many of us confuse things. There are two issues here:

Firstly it is about the alleged cheating/fraud/vote buying/corrupt practices. This, I say, you file election petition and PROOF your allegations.

Secondly, and this is a tough one, is the fact that PR had more popular votes but the BN still win because the constituencies are demarcated in such a way to make the rural votes more relevant in determining the result as well as to make certain constituencies needing more votes to win than certain other constituencies (for example, in Putrajaya, 12000 voters bring one parliamentary seats while in Subang Jaya, you need I don’t know, 70000 voters?).

This second issue CANNOT BE BROUGHT UP IN ELECTION PETITIONS. This is not a matter for the Courts to decide.

For this one, you need to change the demarcation of the constituencies, which needs to be done by the Parliament. If I am not mistaken this act needs a two-third majority. Now, that is tough because BN doesn’t have two-third majority (even if they had, they surely don’t want to do it).

For this to happen, the PR must push for reforms in the proper way and let’s hope they could capture Putrajaya in 2018 with a two-third majority and change the law. Again, this is a tough thing.
I think we should get on with life. Do some really good things for the next five years. The people of Malaysia would remember your deeds and repay you in the next GE.

File election petitions first. Get the evidence out. And see whether they stands up to scrutiny.

Now, it is Art Harun bashing time.

Go on. Hit me.

Funny;moody;temperamental; intelligent;clever;not smart;stupid;obnoxious; charming;sporting;down to earth;politically very incorrect;fit;sexy;ugly; adrenalin junkie;inhaler;drinker; sexually active;rude;mild...

30 replies on “Rallies? Demonstrations? Stop This Madness!”

  1. I dont understand why the polling stations closed at 7 pm yet still have "votes" coming in. Can all those "votes" be accepted ?

  2. it's not madness. it's what the rakyat themselves need to do themselves, not coming out because a politician said so.

    move on to what? our jobs? our life? what life? the GST is coming soon, the subsidies will be lifted soon, the crackdowns are already coming, and the racist crap just keeps piling up while the issue of electoral fraud is completely sideline, the EC still under the PM's thumb, and we now have a government that we didn't vote for.

    if you're going out because Anwar or some PR fella told you so, that's not madness, that's just stupidity and maybe a little bit of the fanboy syndrome.

    if you're going out because you're ready to pay the price for freedom and democracy and willing to go all the way to see this illegitimate government fall, that's not madness, that's a need.

    there's nothing to move on to except an illusion. and the rakyat is nowhere near mature enough to realize we don't need political leaders to start a political movement.

    that's not madness. that's just sad.

  3. saddam, mubarak, gaddafi, suharto, marcos regimes had the similarities: corruption. Now, najis and tahi are the same. sure they will protect their interest – money & power, by all means.
    what we have achieved from past political movements & awareness? end up failure. no signs of chance. what do we expect bersih 4, 5, 6, …? the system fail us. the police & army, and legal system fail us. our leaders might be arrested ISA soon. najis and tahi still enjoy good life.
    seeking for international communities helps? what we expect from them?
    only we help ourselves. trigger the bloodly reformation & revolusion is a MUST. the is the process of the democracy too. those regimes end up the same way. are we ready for this? God bless malaysian. reborn malaysia ! negaraku, tanah tumpah daraku, rakyat hidup !

    1. Dear Red Bean Army soldier – FYI – The ISA has already been repealed. Or perhaps you were just spreading disinformation, in which case please ignore this post.

  4. I agree with what you said. Ubah tetap ubah tetapi lain kalilah sehingga 2018 (next GE) or earlier, in the event PM Naib is forced out by his rivals.

  5. well said Art. we need to move on. absolutely against any use of force to topple the government. as you said, "sheer madness".

    1. and how exactly does peaceful street demos or stadium rallies translate to "use of force"? and "sheer madness"?

  6. Siewkheng, I get riled up because I don't have anything else to show for except my education. My family do not have riches, titles or whatever else.

    Anyway, apology accepted and let's move on to fight the good fight.

  7. Good analysis. Now is the time for the opposition to prove its metal to the rakyat by pushing hard for reforms. This would be energy well spent rather than going on a stampede which will bear no fruits no matter what you do. Enough is enough. At worst, we now have a two party system. Use this new system well. We should be vocal for the right things. Not when some one stir up racial disharmony. We should brush this aside by stating the obvious and not get caught up in a prolonged verbal diarrhea. What the heck for? Waste of energy and time and falling into the trap of getting the rakyat all worked up! We should instead use our time preciously and push for measures to arrest corruption, nepotism, racism, fairness and abuse of power. We should keep pushing and pushing and harder and harder for reforms to be made until we see the results we want. By such pro-active actions and with the right strategy from hind sight, taking over the government with a two-third majority come 2018 should be within good grasp.

  8. The moment I heard the rally was organised by "Pakatan Rakyat Leaders", I know it means "Anwar's Personal Show". Thus I rejected to go for the event.

    Ambigia and Bersih are the biggest loosers. Anwar has jeopardize their neutrality and integrity but Ambigia was a very kind person without knowing Anwar's agenda. These politicians are promoting unhealthy culture sort like "judge 1st without trial", "you are either with me or be my enemy" etc……

    Looking at the never ending propaganda from both sides, I want to shout to BOTH BN and PR:" Oooi! Election sudah over! Apa lu mau?! Pergi kerjalah, bodoh!"

  9. Hey Art, this is siewkheng. If you are reading this, I want to apologise for what I said with regards your alma mater. It was out of line and it was uncalled for. Sorry. But I am just sooo tired of all, the injustice that has been happening in Malaysia for the last donkeys years, one of which is the judiciary not being independent of the government. And feel that if we want a solution to all the frustrations and anger n hatred, which is so sad for the people, maybe we should change that first.

    Hope we will meet in better times.

    X

  10. Hantam you? For what? I couldn't agree with you more…. or to borrow a quote from Zul Nordin, "101%" .
    Just get on with the job that we elected them to do, damn it.

  11. Art,
    from what I know, 2/3 majority is required to increase or decrease the number of seats. But SPR (EC) has authority to change the electrol boundaries, while keeping to the same 222 seats in Parliament.
    For example, SPR can reduce Putrajaya voters further and combine a part of it with neibouring constituency.

    With massive rally in KL, Penang, Ipoh, Kuantan (and JB soon), the point is already heard. Madness to go the street to demand UMNO. What PR should do is to pressure SPR to ensure minimum gerrymandling.

    1. the SPR reports to the Prime Minister. It's in the Federal Constitution. so good luck with that pressuring.

      1. Get the facts right. I have read Part VIII of the Constitution (relating to SPR and elections) and DID NOT see anything which says that the SPR reports to the Prime Minister.

        The SPR members are appointed by the King, after consulting the Conference of Rulers. Once appointed, they have security of tenure until the age of 66. An EC member will be removed if he becomes bankrupt, becomes an MP or a member of a State Legislative Assembly, or engages in any other paid office or employment. They may also be removed on any ground that would enable a Federal Court judge to be removed.

        In summary, the SPR does not report to the PM. It is a body established under the Constitution and its members have security of tenure, like judges. Just because their office is in Putrajaya does not mean that they report to the PM.

    2. Article 46(b)(iii) of the Constitution says that there shall be "one member [of parliament] from the Federal Territory of Putrajaya." SPR therefore cannot combine Putrajaya into another constituency as the constitution clearly states that Putrajaya is an independent constituency with its own MP. SPR's hands are tied. They did not create Putrajaya nor did they put Article 46(b)(iii) in the Constitution.

  12. For once you you have proved your mantle which otherwise has been rhetoric. I like this by this imbecile gunse " You might be wealthy guy who lives overseas with secured life…". Really, so tangible!!!. This is the mindset of a typical morbid. Harun, welcome to the bashing platform.

  13. Art Harun,

    If you are reading this, I want to ask you… are you from MARS ??

    You might be wealthy guy who lives overseas with secured life…

    You can say try again in 2018… there is no try again if the UMpire SPR is BN… if this is BN’s standard, then we rakyat will do our boycott, Hartal or demo… to build something new, we have to destroy the Old…Gandhi method works with British but wont work with Hitler… Hitler will just gas chamber Gandhi to death…

    If you really want to fight, come back Malaysia and fight from here than commenting from your lovely home OVERSEAS…

    1. Quite to the contrary, I am in fact from Uranus. I am super wealthy, with a pair of testicles and a cock between my legs.

  14. I agree with Art Harun. Enough is enough! Politicians on both sides need to get busy working to solve our problems or just get out of the way.

  15. I'm not a member of any political party. I have already decided whom I wanted to vote for even before the dissolution of parliament basing on 2 issues i.e. Malaysia's debt-to-GDP ratio and who killed Altantuya (no closure). I actually do not agree to the rallies but when the MSM does not give the PR ample opportunity to highlight their cases, the only way to do it was to bring it to the people. Yes the social media is a good platform but the rural areas is being left out. So far the rallies has been very peaceful and it only shows that the majority are a civilised lot.

  16. Rallying is one of the Non Violent #198Actions but I must insist that it it needs to be done in a civilised manner. Tough but not impossible.

  17. Just one: "Prove", not "proof". But I suppose this was written in haste. Oh, well.

  18. A rally or a demonstration is an expression. People ought to have the freedom to express themselves. What is expressed ought to send the message to powers that be. It also influences public opinion for or against depending on what is said at the rallies. Through expressions wants likes and dislikes are ascertained. If there is a free press and independent media we will have less of rallies. We will probably not need rallies at all.Or there will be less rallies. We cannot stop them altogether.
    Women would not have the vote if they did not rally.
    Nuclear arms may not be controlled by treaties if there were no rallies.
    India may not have got independence if the Mahatma had not called rallies.
    As long as man exists he will rally.
    It is better to meet it rather than to suppress it.
    Kanesalingam

  19. Brilliant article! Exactly my sentiments and I'm sure quite a number of Malaysians have the same thoughts.

    Although it is great that Malaysians have learn to come out and participate in peaceful rallies, we should also learn other ways to enhance and celebrate our national unity and democracy.

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