By Haris’ Hummingbird
______________________________
What a night! Two friends and I decided that we would go to a Keadilan ceramah in Brickfields. I did not know who all the speakers were going to be, but I did know that Raja Petra was going to be there and I was told by a pal that the man was an excellent speaker.
Normally I wouldn’t go to these ceramahs. After all I already know who I am going to vote for and the parking was sure to be atrocious. But tonight I thought, “What the heck”. Anyway, it’s in Brickfields and I was hungry. You always eat well in Brickfields.
So we went, and knowing there was some 30 minutes to spare, decided to have some briyani in a Punjabi restaurant first. The briyani was excellent but slow in coming so we missed the start of the ceramah. Sod this one then, they are going to have another ceramah in Lembah Pantai, let’s go early and catch the whole thing over there. Off we went again.
The ceramah in Lembah Pantai was due to start at 9.45, we got there at 9.30. Parking was near impossible, but somehow we managed to get one. People were already flocking in. It was held in a large open area. I don’t know what it is in the day time, maybe a car park. There was a tiny little tent with some plastic chairs but it hardly sat 40 and it was full. Everybody else was standing around.
The stage was simple but high up. At the back of the stage a large screen projected the image of the speakers. We waited and the crowd grew. Then the heavens opened. The crowd did not move. A fellow in the audience took pity on my cap-less friends and gave them a make shift umbrella. It was a poster of Pak Lah. They ripped it in two and used the pieces as hats. Nice to know that Pak Lah is good for something.
Then the speakers came. They were all excellent. Raja Devan, lawyer for the Hindraf 5 was articulate and fluent. Raja Petra was fiery and highly amusing. Nurul was a formidable speaker. Strong, pointed and passionate. You would not think she was a newbie.
But, it is not the speakers that I want to talk about. It was the crowd. It just grew and grew. I think there were 5000 people there. My friend thought it was double that. The open space was packed. The flyover that passed it was packed. The river side area separated from the open space by a fence was packed. He might well be right.
People were standing in the rain and the mud and they did not move. And when Raja Petra said that “BN can threaten the Indians and Chinese over our dead bodies”, the Malay crowd roared approval. I could not believe it.
Then we heard that Najib was speaking in Bangsar. Like three naughty school boys, we decided to crash the party, so we left after Nurul finished. The rain was still pouring down, but people were still pouring in. Anwar was coming and they wanted to see him.
We managed to navigate the tank out of its parking and drove to Bangsar. Friends, the difference was shocking.
They had closed the road next to Bangsar Village II with a gigantic white tent. There was a portable generator the size of truck pumping electricity into the fans and bright lights that illuminated the tent. A cushy stage with Mak Datin chairs were arranged for the, oh so important, people. There were hundreds of chairs for the audience. Thick glossy magazines were all over the place extolling Sharizat’s many virtues.
At the most, at the most, there were 500 people there. And most of these were curious onlookers on the five foot way. The tent was not even half full. Empty chairs every where.
And while the huge crowd at Lembah Pantai needed no prompting to shout “Reformasi” and “Makal Sakti”, Najib had to practically plead with the crowd to respond to his pathetic attempts at rousing oratory. Its not that he was a bad speaker. Oh no. it was just that he was not getting any response. Except for a small group of maybe 30 BN workers right at the front. Everyone else sat quietly. Or made comments about how much those fellows were getting paid to shout “hidup UMNO”.
While I was there, Najib spent a lot of time attacking the man that Pak lah said did not matter any more. Funny isn’t it that he was so busy trying to assassinate the character of Anwar Ibrahim when Anwar is not even standing for elections (incidentally none of the Keadilan speakers I heard took any personal pot shots). Funny isn’t it how Chandra Muzaffar is now BN’s Poster Boy. Funny isn’t it that Najib was trying to scare the Bangsar folk with the threat of a PAS Islamic state when he himself had declared last year that “we have never been a secular country”. Funny isn’t it how Najib extolled the virtues of Bangsar’s “cosmopolitan” life style, when government moral police are happy to tear down Hindu pictures from Bangsar restaurants and drag Muslim patrons from Bangsar bars. You have to laugh because otherwise you’ll cry.
The differences between the two ceramahs shocked me. One was packed with thousands and thousands of people. Wet, filthy with mud but vociferous in their desire for change. The other was dry, comfortable, posh even, but scarcely attended by people who mainly did not seem to care, despite the speaker’s increasingly desperate rabble rousing.
Friends, before this night, I thought there was no way BN could lose their two thirds majority. Now, I am not so sure. There is a hope in the air and although I am loath to tell anyone what they should do, I will say this. We must vote and we must vote opposition. We must do all we can to change the rotten status quo. We vote, not just to get BN out of power or at the very least to lose their two thirds majority. We vote for change. We vote for democracy. After tonight, I believe, we can do it.
The People's Parliament 
Moderator
March 7, 2008
Liputan Terkini : Anwar Ibrahim Turun Pasar Minggu Kampung Baru, KL (Khamis 6 Mac, Masa : 9.30 – 11 pm) JALAN DITUTUP !
FOTO-FOTO EKSKLUSIF HANYA DARIPADA :
http://theindiestory.blogspot.com
CHECK IT OUT!
SV Singam
March 7, 2008
Attendance at ceramah indicates the massive swing towards BR. There have been predictions that BR will take Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu and even capture 10 seats in fortress Johor as well. And we may take as many as 90 parliament seats.
Yet there are other analysts quite insistent that BN will retain its 2/3 majority.
Who is living in a dream?
Chauncey Gardener
March 7, 2008
Thanks to the Hummingbird for flapping his/her wings and giving us the true story.
theerga
March 7, 2008
“The State, not family, faith or community, is the guarantor of personal liberty and intellectual freedom that all citizens need look to. While the state can oppress, it is only the state that can create the conditions for freedom and can protect people from those who would curtail that freedom. Other forms of social organisation, such as religions, tribes, gangs, political cults and companies, cannot do this and, in many cases, do just the opposite”.
In Malaysia during the last few decades we have witnessed the unravelling of this core principle; the state as the sole temporal authority, protector of the Rule of law and arbiter of justice has been jettisoned summarily. Elected dictators have long dispensed with the liberties and rights of the citizens of the country they govern. All pretence of due process and the separation of powers ABANDONED; cynical, manipulative and contemptuous of voters, self-serving functionaries, fraudulent, patronising, self-aggrandising, unprincipled and steeped in the corruption.
UMNO has cultivated and institutionalised both the feared and fearful client class of race and religious groups; its dependents, unable even to imagine standing on their own feet. A malignant force perpetuating a repressive retrograde Communitarianism; paralysing the social and intellectual development of very community it purports to champion. That slight of hand, that brandishing of swords, that jingoistic Nationalism – all a sham – to hold on to power to feed its cavernous greed. It has presided over the most shameful venal politics: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, and Politics without principle.
“It tells lies in an environment where alternative views are not heard. It tells people what they want to hear; give them simple solutions to complex problems, enemies on whom they can blame their discontents, promises to satisfy their narrow aspirations, spectacles and ceremonies to stir the emotions and suppress critical thinking”.
It has undermined the very basis of the economic and social parity it proclaims.
It engendered a breed of parasitic ‘hangers on’; a fractured and polarized society where the LINGHAMS’ and TANS’ tout and pimp for the amoral ruling elite. Vultures circling for rich pickings off rotting flesh.
The outcome? Alienation and apartheid that has become the abiding state of affairs, where coercion, thuggery, intimidation are commonplace. Instead of providing the framework for the intellectual, economic and social advancement, it has shackled a community to defunct racial and religious ideology to bolster its own power crazed frenzy. It has deliberately crippled the ‘able bodied’ and handed it ‘faulty crutches’.
“A society that puts equality – in the sense of equality of outcome – ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom. The use of force to achieve equality will destroy freedom….” Milton Friedman.
The world’s free societies are those where tribalism and religion has been tamed by the nation-state. In these countries, religion has been detached from the state by constitutional rules.
It is time to unhitch this unholy, dysfunctional BN alliance. – CHANGE is long overdue!
Ranger
March 7, 2008
Dear Haris,
I was at a DAP ceramah last night in Penang and the crowd was around 50,000 -60,000. The collection surpassed RM120,000. It was historic. Go here to read more http://www.chanlilian.net/2008/03/07/dap-ceramah-that-rocks-penang-crowd-estimated-between-30k-to-50k/
zxf
March 7, 2008
Thank you Haris, for your tales of 2 ceramahs at Pantai last nite. The stark contrast between the two ceramahs speaks volume of the difference BN and Barisan Rakyat.
BN with their ill-gotten corruption gains, using rakyat money and state facilities for their election campaign
While, Barisan Rakyat runs the election campaign with the support of the rakyat!
Yes, lets unite and give the arrogant, corrupt and oppressive BN the boot !
Lets vote in a clean, efficient, pro-people gov’t !
VOTE KEADILAN, VOTE DAP, VOTE PAS
投公正， 有保证 (Vote Keadilan to ensure Justice)
投火箭， 看的见 (Vote Rocket to ensure bright Vision)
投月亮， 前途亮 ( Vote Moon to ensure bright future)
kuna
March 7, 2008
fantastic hoorah for change
Ahmad Navi Abdullah
March 7, 2008
Haris,
What is it about the people of Johor that they are so loyal to UMNO. Is it because UMNO was founded there or met there the first time in its formulative years. It was a party that most malays would have been proud of.
What we have today is not UMNO, but UMNO Baru, founded in KL by a corrupt group of people, who had since than indulged in all kinds to stay in power; both in party and in government. It Looks like the original UMNO, sounds like one but it is not sure whether it is UMNO.
Where are the high ideals and principles of the founding fathers?
It is time the malays in Johor discard their false love for UMNO that does not exists and come back to earth.
Libra
March 7, 2008
Yes, we vote for democracy. We vote for the survival of The MALAYSIAN RACE -. There are no Malays, Chinese and Indians in this country. We only have Malaysians. Vote for our children’s future.
Umar Rentaka
March 7, 2008
Ther is truth is BN claiming that it will retain the 2/3 majority. Much work is still needed. I spoke to two educated friends.
Both said what is wrong with BN? They are doing good what? After hearing my explanation, one converted. Other said he will vote state for opposition and BN for Parliament because a Minister is standing in his place. As long as we have such selfish idiots, BN will retain 2/3.
Free Malaysia
March 7, 2008
Haris,
I was there the PKR’s ceramah at Kg Limau last night. I stood in the rain and mud with thousands of Malaysians. It was unbelieveable. I strongly believe Malaysians are uniting to fight against UMNO-BN.
Threats by UMNO-BN of May 13 wont work because the rakyat have united as Malaysians.
My wife who just gave birth last Friday is so determined to vote for Nurul Izzah tomorrow.
Lets give UMNO-BN a beating tomorrow!
zul
March 7, 2008
i was there last nite 🙂 the huge crowd speak itself
yh
March 7, 2008
there’s another big difference. BN ceramahs, there’s plentiful of food which you can gobble up and of course at the taxpayer’s expenses.
for the opposition parties, they open up their wallets to donate and that for a good cause. and this phenomenon is not seen before. even when heaven opens up, they dont move. This participation, to me, confirms a typhoon is coming;a typhoon that will bring tidings of change for the better.
gogogo
March 7, 2008
kick BN out
you guys can do it!
please do not waste this once in a lifetime chance!!
Hail the opposition
fair
March 7, 2008
Vote for checks and balances.
Vote against corruption, cronyism and nepotism.
Vote for opposition parties, vote for any opposition party !
shar101
March 7, 2008
A.N.A (10.32am),
A staunch supporter of UMNO (who shall not be named) whom I’ve met and spoken with on numerous occasions during the past one year had this to say –
“UMNO, as it exist today, needs to be rejected by their own members in order for it to return to its core purpose during its inception (circa 1946). With defeat, it is hoped that the UMNO grassroots will finally realize that its current leaders are actually undermining their future, if not blatantly stealing it from their children”.
The concept of ‘durhaka’ is still very strong within the mindset of the malay largese, hence, rejecting their own leaders will require a tremendous amount of soul searching which, in fact, should be a humbling experience (and most malays are humble in nature).
Question is – Why are the UMNO leaders themselves arrogant in the guise of protecting the malays? Is holding to power a self-fulfilling prerequisite, giving way to carte blanche methods which bear no resemblance to a rich cultural heritage?
The malays and, in turn, UMNO, therefore require an extreme make-over. It will require courage and conviction which are certainly not lacking.
I sincerely hope UMNO Johor will pave the way forward bearing in mind the idealism of Onn Jaafar who, imho, was a true malaysian patriot before his time.
Be a part of history in the making and join Barisan Rakyat.
BukitBeruntung
March 7, 2008
Yes, we must vote and we must vote Barisan Rakyat.
Rocky
March 7, 2008
This is certainly positive. I’ve seen too many of my disgruntled Malaysian friends leave their dear country for the simple reason that they believe a change for the better is not possible. The rot is everywhere from corrupted ineffective enforcement, racial politics, sub-standard local councils, politization of our education system, perversion of our judiciary system, etc… Let us stop the rot and show that we want change!
Gayathry
March 7, 2008
Haris, I made the similar observation the night before Anwar’s talk but also in Lembah Pantai in Kerinchi. Nurul Izzah was talking and she easily had 400 people listening to her. Across the road at the Vista Angkasa, BN had set up a flashy tent and I swear there were only 10 people! And they were definitely not interested in the speaker, whose name has escaped me but spent his time talking about Anwar’s Foundation for Future. Real desperado — so 400 vs 10, 5,000 vs 500, optimism is growing by the day!
Ratu
March 7, 2008
Haris is indeed a good speaker. Attended his ceramah at Chai Leng Park and was so impressed. His voice was clear, sharp & precise. We were sure Pak Lah heard his voice that night.
All my other friends were looking forward to meeting him other then RPK in Penang again but most unfortunately they were not allow in any other ceramah.
Keep it up Haris. We want to hear more from you!!
From Anak M’sia
Ratu,
Thank you for the encouragement
strike
March 7, 2008
Hi reading on this really encouraging. Yes i am malaysian and i hope malaysia boleh.
Let vote for Malaysia for Malaysian tomorrow. I wil vote in Johor. heehee.
haramjadah
March 7, 2008
lets give all the BN leaders a rousing send-off to hell
Woody
March 7, 2008
Haris,
Thank you very much for letting us know about the ceramah near your area. I was in Penang for the DAP. I recalled vividly one Keadilan speaker telling the audience. By this weekend, BN will stop criticize opposition, because they are going to be the opposition.
Braving the rain with massive traffic jam, no fancy tent or shelter, no free food, no free ang pao, no sexy singers. Just the plain passionate oppositions leaders promising a more balance power, that drawn cheers from about 60,000 people.
Yes, we are ready. Penang is ready to change history, I am glad that over your place, they are ready too !!
Let’s make this the history that we can proudly tell our kids and grandkids, Yes grandpa was there as part of history.
Woody,
kk
March 7, 2008
I believe with unity all of us as Malaysian can give a chance to yourself to change the management.
You see on your own eye. Every time when near to election the road and made good, tree are cutting down and etc…. Before that ‘tangkap sini, tangkap sana, piracy and etc… No better things to do kah…
We are all Malaysian, give your full support to the opposition for a chance to demostrate. Let them show what they got, I am sure they will be working more harder cause they have the courage to keep fighting till today.
Once you see some one keep fighting and not giving out easy, you know he will do the best.
Not much time left and decide fast..
lan
March 7, 2008
hi…i’m new here…..i manage to convince several johorean umno stalwats with these picture……they can still appreciate sincere leader when they see one!!
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/3959/84/
Raymond Woo
March 7, 2008
My 2 buddies and me was at SS2 BR ceramah on Monday night, not sure that the Lembah Pantai rain was as heavy, but certainly majority of the audience in the SS2 also did not budge, all soaked in listening to DAP candidates and RPK. I believe if RPK wasn’t there as inspiration most may have ran for shelter.
Certainly if it was even our previous PM Tun M I would still split at the sight of rain.
We even donated.
One truly moving sentence resonates in my mind from the talk and wish to share with all:
Lets make a change for the better not for ourself but for our children and our grandchilden as there is no better country better than Malaysia
Malaysia Boleh Barisan Rakyat Boleh!
Hidup RPK!
Talkingback79
March 8, 2008
Like many, I have been a victim of UMNO’s race dampened propoganda that sent a message to non malays that Malays are a highly inferior lot and always have to depend on UMNO for survival. The Malays’ proactive involvement in the recent days’ events have totally changed my mindset!!! I am starting to realise that Malays are really not what the UMNO nuts have made them to be. They have managed to squeeze out of the UMNO trap. They too are searching for truth, justice and a strong sense to be known as a capable people. We Chinese are really amazed. The path to justice does make brothers and sisters out of those you walk on it.
J.D. Lovrenciear
March 8, 2008
I truly enjoyed reading this piece. Myself having witnessed 4 Ceramahs, and having spoken to and quietly listened to the sentiments of the public at these rallies, I am convinced that the rakyat are unanimous about the shameful profiteering, sheer wastage, arrogance and misleading divisions created among the races. You do not need so-called learned perpectives from the likes of doctors and plitical scientists. You only need an open heart to validate the ground level sentiments. This 12th GE will be historical by no mean measure. You see, when the rakyat are willing to dip into their pockets and part with donations at all these ‘opposition’ rallies nationwide, it clearly speaks volumes of their hope and desperation.
J.D. Lovrenciear
Arshad
March 8, 2008
Most Malays talk only for a change in UMNO but nothing has been done. The moment a YB or YAB or even a Dato’ shows up, everyone rushes up to shake or even kiss their hands!
The UMNO elite will keep power within their group, which now is being handed down to generations and therefore enslaving the Malays in general; the ordinary Rakyat can watch with dripping mouths and grumble at the back. When the elite UMNO sees the Rakyat cry, they would offer of ice-cream to quiten the ‘babies’ who would vote then in again and again.
lilian
March 8, 2008
Over here in Penang, it is the same thing. Last night, (6th) people braved the rain in Han Chiang for DAP. Tonight (7th), people stand by longkang and lallang field to listen to DSAI. At least 10K people are in this small pekan, Sungai Ara for DSAI and other PAS/PKR candidates and majority of them are Chinese and Indians. This is probably my 3rd or 4th GE so I dare hope yet (after the previous years disappointment), but I will certainly pray really hard. Just change!
JDB
March 8, 2008
Reading this piece just made me cry. I am so touched by the solidarity shown in fellow Malaysians wanting a change for the better. I really hope the turnout in support of Barisan Rakyat at the ceramahs will convert into votes for them. Sadly being abroad I am not able to vote. However, I wish and pray for a successful election for Barisan Rakyat. Deny BN 2/3 majority.
Christopher Yam
March 8, 2008
It is time for change. BN have been in power for too long and have not done anything to improve the lives of all Malaysians regardless of race. We are Malaysians regardless of race. Vote to bring change
ivan yang
March 8, 2008
After reading most of the blogs… there is this feeling of hope… and armed with this, there is future…! Very encouraging…! Great work!
malaysiafinallyboleh
March 8, 2008
For hope to grow in Malaysia, we must vote for the opposition. There’s no other way of doing it. Today we must clean up the mess and throw BN out!!!
Wind of change only occurs once every decade. Catch it now, let BR sail into the parliament and redeem the future for all MALAYSIANS!!!!
bayi
March 8, 2008
My spirit is very much lifted by first-hand stories like this one. And these I pass on till they become urban legends.
If UMNO’s intention is to finish off Anwar and Keadilan once and for all, they had better reset their strategies, because whatever they are doing ain’t producing the results!
SV Singam
March 8, 2008
Ah, if only winds of change blew every decade. We have had to wait 5 decades, half a century.
This is it.
Koolqad
March 8, 2008
I am personally grateful and encouraged by the expressive mood of the masses these past few days. My impression of the Malaysian public (myself included) is reserved and cautious when it comes to political views (very unlike the British and the Americans). I am wrong. Malaysians can be expressive and stand up to be counted.
Alas, I could not. I registered as a voter when I was home in April last year. I asked the SPR officer whether there is accommodation by the SPR for overseas-based voters like myself. This officer said “YES”. I found out last month that I would be denied my voting rights on the account that I am:
– overseas-based
– not a civil servant
– not a student
Explain to me the grounds for this denial of my rights.
macanhitam
March 9, 2008
race based parties are irrelevant now. malaysians are way smarter than that. BN is just a shadow of our past. Even if opposition cant form a govt now, I hope the winners will prove their worth to ensure that other BN stronghold falls in the next GE.
jack
March 9, 2008
I was doing my work when my 16 year old brother interrupted me by texting me, asking me to guess what he had just experienced. I didnt show any sign interest towards his message ’til he sent the other one saying – Reformasi!
Mom called me a minute later telling that my brother was more than ecstatic upon seeing the very, very large and huge crowd and energetic speeches (especially from anwar ibrahim) at the ceramah. Dad later told that the crowd was indeed very huge with approximately more than 10,000 of eager people in need of changes. I’m shocked to know that there were only around 500 people at brickfields.
Go Nurul Izzah!
Sharizat? Blerghhh.
mandela
March 10, 2008
Bravo! to Haris Ibrahim, Raja Petra, all those in dap, pkr, pas and volunteers who worked extremely hard to wake the rakyat up.. Good job guys and gals! I did my little part by giving the awareness to my co-workers and friends who did not know what was going on in the political arena.. believe me, there are so many who were and are just so ignorant of whats happening around them.
We’ve won and got more than what we expected! We denied BN their 2/3rds majority..! Outstanding! Nevertheless, we should not rest on our laurels, the game has started.. there’s no time for warming up anymore (like what Raja Petra said about PM). Kudos and Good Luck to all those that will be holding a position… I’ll be watching :)…
Siew Eng
March 29, 2008
Reading this now, seeing how prophetic your posters were, reliving the (controlled!) giddy happiness the morning after… The mainstream media are really paying for deliberately ignoring the mood on the ground, which was captured perfectly by blogs like Haris’s. And MCA still doesn’t get that it needs more than a PR revamp, while UMNO is completely oblivious to anything but its own in-fighting. And MIC is still in denial.
Having had one of my biggest dreams fulfilled on 080308, onward to the next – to see BN disintegrate.