I repeat my challenge to the Prime Minister—if you are true reformist, fight the Opposition fair and square. Implement the 8 Bersih demands before the next general election.

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at DAP Ceramah held at Ipoh Old Town  on June 2, 2012 at 8pm.

I repeat my challenge to the Prime Minister—if you are true reformist, fight the Opposition fair and square. Implement the 8 Bersih demands before the next general election. 

The date of the nation’s 13 th general election is the most speculated in the nation’s history. 

Prime Minister’s Dato Sri Najib is probably going down in history as the Prime Minister who is most uncertain as to when will be the right timing to call for dissolution of parliament. 

I believe Najib had set his mind on a few possible dates before but had always decided not to go ahead to dissolve the parliament simply because he still lacked confidence in the electoral outcome. 

Perhaps an additional factor that he always has to consider is the opinion of the still influential former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad. 

Mahathir has said that BN government is still weak and he does not favor an early election. 

On the night of April 28, immediately after the historic and successful Bersih sit in protest that saw the participation of more than 200,000 people, I had said at a ceramah that although speculation was rife that June will be the likely date for the nation’s 13 th general election, it is possible that September may turn out to be the real date.

Many people say Malaysian politics has changed after the 2008 general election. 

Today, not only one incident or issue can shift the public mood, there is also the political awakening of our youths. 

I said that although BN had basically set its mind on holding the coming general elections in June but may defer the date to September if the Bersih 3.0 sit in protest affects the approval ratings of the Prime Minister. 

Based on the decline of Najib’s approval ratings after the Bersih 2.0 event, I was confident that his approval ratings will be again affected by Bersih 3.0 rally. 

The post Bersih 3.0 rally survey conducted by Merdeka Centre has shown that Najib’s approval ratings have indeed taken a dip. 

His support from Indian and Chinese dropped 8 and 19 points respectively from February this year. 

If not for the demonizing campaign over the government printed and electronic media, I am sure that his support from the Malay voters will have dropped too.

“Campaign for solidarity with Ambiga”  

I believe the unjustified, disgraceful, incessant harassment against Bersih leader Datuk S Amabiga is an additional factor this time around for Najib’s declined support. 

No right thinking Malaysia will accept such violation of her privacy, human and citizenship rights. 

Yet the Prime Minister has remained silent and has not publicly condemned the harassment. 

Datuk Ambiga is a leader with great determination. Water cannons and tear gas could not stop her from fighting the cause of free and fair elections.

She will not be cowed by any harassment.  But Malaysians must express support for and solidarity with her.

Ipoh Barat DAP has launched a nation wide programme themed “solidarity with Ambiga”. We are in a road show and we did an event on this issue this morning at Tawas wet Market. 

Tomorrow we will be visiting Buntong,Central and Bercham markets. This solidarity road show is a small way to thank and appreciate Ambiga on her peoples mission to clean up the electoral register in this country. 

Let’s voice and show our support for her in the internet, face book twitter etc. 

Malaysians must also not lose focus on the great cause which she is fighting for—the demands for free and fair elections. 

Can the Prime Minister say that he is a reformist if he is not even prepared to accept such demands? 

I repeat my challenge to the Prime Minister—if you are true reformist, fight the Opposition fair and square. Implement the 8 Bersih demands before the next general election.