That’s the IGP looking out at the BERSIH 2.0 rally on 9th July, through a keyhole.
That’s why he is reported to have said that there were only 6,000 Malaysians rallying out there that day.
Those of us who were out there on 709 saw something else.
Some online media reported the numbers as being approximately 50,000.
BBC, it seems, counted the crowd as numbering in the region of 120,000.
Blogger buddy Hawkeye calculates the numbers rallying on 709 as being in excess of 200,000.
Whatever the actual numbers, as RPK said 5 days after the rally, “On 9th July 2011, what we saw was The Third Force in action. This was not about ‘three-corner fights’. This was about taking back power from the politicians and transferring it into the hands of the rakyat.
Never mind whether 6,000 people came out that day (as what the police says), or 20,000 people (as what the mainstream media says), or 50,000 people (as what some say), or 200,000 people (as what others say), or whatever. The numbers are not as important as the fact that the rakyat demonstrated their will to come out to show their unhappiness and to send a strong message to the powers-that-be that changes must happen and resistance is futile.
The rakyat has ‘tasted blood’, that day on 9th July 2011. And there is no turning back the clock. Bersih has taught the rakyat the meaning of The Third Force. The rakyat now understands that united they can force changes. And the rakyat is going to continue to force changes and anyone who stands in the way of the rakyat is going to be swept aside”.
MCLM acknowledges each of you who were out there rallying peacefully on 709 as a forcto be reckoned with in your own right.
You are the Third Force.
If any of you who were in the rally see me anywhere, come up to me and say, “Bro, I was there on 709”, I will present to you this badge of honour
as a little token of acknowledgement from RPK and I that you are part of the Third Force.
In his post that I just referred to, RPK concluded the same with the following :
“We hope, now, the meaning of The Third Force becomes clearer. And the newly crowned leader of this Third Force is Ambiga Sreenevasan. She may be a reluctant leader. Maybe she did not plan to emerge as its leader. However, like it or not, she is now the leader of Malaysia’s Third Force.
Now I hope you understand what we mean when we talk about The Third Force”.
The coming days and weeks will reveal if indeed Ambiga has arrived to lead the Third Force.
Yesterday, Kuli launched his Angkatan Amanah Merdeka, or Amanah, for short.
I was invited to attend the launch, to lend support for this latest effort by Kuli and several other leaders, past and present.
However, the event clashed with the scheduled hearing of the habeas corpus application of the EO6.
I am very clear about the cause of the EO6, and it is one very close to my heart.
I cannot yet say the same of Kuli’s Amanah.
In the result, I ended up in Mahkamah Tinggi Jenayah 1, rather than at the Tunku Andul Rahman Memorial Centre.
FreeMalaysiaToday’s Syed Jamal Zahiid, who was at the launch, reports that Kuli “hinted” that Amanah ‘could possibly be the catalyst to a rising third force’.
Amanah the catalyst to a rising third force?
Quite clearly, Kuli and his fellow Amanites were not there at the rally on 709 to witness first hand that the Third Force had already arisen, and needed no further catalyst from anyone.
Syed Jamal reports that in an inspiring speech, Kuli ‘called on the silent majority to voice their discontent against “rife corruption, cronyism and racial crisis” ‘.
With the greatest of respect to Kuli, that inspiring speech has come a little late.
Some 13 days before, on 709, the Third Force, long silent, rose and were heard, above the din of roaring water cannon trucks, sirens and tear gas shots.
Does Kuli now offer to lead this Third Force?
If so, where to?
The rehabilitation of this nation, or to rehabilitate UMNO?
If the former, Kuli must fully realise that the Third Force sees UMNO as the most evil scourge this nation has had to endure, and he must take the first bold step of severing all ties with the party if he is to offer us his leadership.
If, however, the Kelantan prince persists in his past hopes of rehabilitating UMNO from within, but this time through the vehicle of Amanah, he should ready himself to face the Third Force, rather than lead it.
I, and so many more amongst the Third Force, wait with bated breath, to see where Kuli will go with his Amanah.
joan
July 23, 2011
I may have a fair amount of respect for Kuli, but with other names like Kadir, OTK etc, all BN members in Amanah……………….I’m sorry to say, I’ll never accept them as a leader of the 3rd Force. My gut feel is that they are the disgruntled members of BN who are trying to capitalise on the rise in influence of the 3rd Force, and as such wanna be part of this rising tide.
Sorry, it’s a no go for me.
Lynn Cheang
July 23, 2011
Totally agree with you the moment I read about the launch of Amanah. Sounds like opportunists to me! More likely, these BN ex’es are trying to remake a BN2.0!
Anak Malaysia Kedah.
July 23, 2011
Same feeling here…no go for me too.
Datuk Dr. Ambiga, yes for me.
ravi sham
July 23, 2011
Saudara, thank you for your insights, integrity, but mostly for your defense of the EO6. But most of all, thank you for being a reason for my not giving up on my country and her people
RastamanJB
July 23, 2011
Bro Haris,
Oughta take Kuli’s agenda with a pinch of salt…..doubt he will gel with our ideals.
As a first step……he has to divorce his club membership (Dumbno)……then lead his group from the forefront (ie drench himself in the chemical laced waters, inhale the gases,subject himself to the men dressed in brutality) and start calling the shots.
Me thinks, he feels it is the right time for one last hurrah….given the current leadership turmoil in Dumbno…..
I will wait for sometime before clapping for him !!!
Cheers
RastamanJB
Anak Malaysia Kedah.
July 23, 2011
Excellento….my Bro Harris we are the third force…not KULI or Amanah.
AMBIGA is our LEADER & BERSIH Streering Committee
storm
July 23, 2011
thanks haris for all your efforts.Please help get the eo6 out.Please tread carefully with kuli’s amanah 6…. not too sure about that.too much too little too late with kuli.Blessings and peace to you brother… these are mad and insane times we live in..
ganesan s pillai
July 23, 2011
Many a times, Ku Li has been a letdown, he will say something positive and then in the same breath say he is still in UMNO. Now he has got some has been politicians with very short expiry date to form Amanah which may be detrimental to the development of mature politics by way of 2 party system.One is not sure whether it is UMNO’s bidding.
husain ali
July 23, 2011
Helo Harris !
Kuli and his band of HAS BEENS /LOSERS found a way thro BERSIH RALLY to be” RELEVENT” by HIJACKING the NEW FOUND STRENGTH OF BERSIH and its component of 62 NGO who sweated to bring about the present “SURE WIN CONDITION”, DONT LET THIESE IMBECILES HIJACK THE MOMENTUM,
PAS WORKED ITS BUT OUT. DAP WORKED ITS BUTTS OUT AND PKR TOO.
WHERE WAS THIS GROUP OF PARASITES WHEN ACID WATER< TEAR GAS and BATON charges were faced by the 3rd FORCE.
OK ! WHAT WERE THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN REAL TERMS TO THE COUNTRY,TO RACE RELATIONS ?? ZILCH ZILCH SO WHY BOTHER ABOUT THIS GROUP OF HAS BEENS.
Where was this idea of AMANAH for the last DONKEY YEARS, Oh ONLY NOW THEY SAW THE LIGHT
NO NO NO to AMANAH
Rahman Hyder
July 23, 2011
let’s make the bersih steering committee our leader.
nothing against ambiga, but we should move away from identifying the movement through any particular person. that will make it harder for our adversaries to attack us.
ambiga’s place in history is assured. let more ambigas arise!
martha
July 23, 2011
I do not see why Ambiga cannot not lead the Third Force. We need interllectuals to lead our country not brainless nimcompoops and their great rich quick schemes.
suzy ratna
July 23, 2011
Ohhhhhhhh AMANAH !! KULI ! Group of spent force with major ED problems as his side kicks awwwwwwww comeon people, cant you see a pack of HYENAs when you see one.
Ohhhhhhhhh Amanah !!Kuli ! Group of spent force with major ego problem of “when i WAS a minister ——– i did this and did that, ohhh people were lucky they had me to serve them etcetc but ended up filling up their 40 JARs.
People ! lets go with Berish steering Comm.,mclm and the 62 ngos of bersih2.0.
JUST VOTE PR .
Dont let them ” CARMA”
BS
July 23, 2011
The objectives and intentions of Amanah are good and I truly respect Ku Li and he did inspire me with some stirring speeches which resonate with me. But with all due respect, besides him there are no other leaders that can be said to be inspiring. Yes, they are either has beens or frustrated politicians having an axe to grind. BERSIH which I walked with on 709 was still magical for me.
dewa
July 23, 2011
Amanah, is it a stooge to get into Bersih and destroy the hard work of the founders and its supporters.
4RAKYAT
July 23, 2011
ku li is all talk. he has a good speechwriter. but he still has utility value to the 3rd force.
for now, we wait and see.
yes, i agree with haris. umno wajib dikuburkan. dah kronik. must be put to sleep. this anjing.
4RAKYAT
kittykat46
July 23, 2011
Unfortunately, Ku Li is with UMNO, dulu, sekarang, selamanya. He makes good , sensible speeches, but where the rubber hits the road, he will be there for UMNO.
In that way he helps to perpetuate the rotten system he criticises in his speeches.
Bottom line, where it finally counts, Ku Li is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Parli-Man
July 23, 2011
Rehabilitate UMNO from within sounds like what Anwar wanted to do when he left ABIM
sampalee
July 23, 2011
The safe way is to ignore all the politicians.It is already too much trouble for them to sign an on-line petition and they expect us to take time off to vote for them..
We are accused of being blind to bn arrogance,yet the Indifference of pr to rakyats need is equally disgusting.
wandererAUS
July 23, 2011
Kuli is an ineffective old tiger…having “prostate problem”… no balls!! We once looked up to him to disable UMNO but, he failed us. He is history…there are bsigns now, new young blood are prepared to lead the Third Force.
wandererAUS
July 23, 2011
Kuli…just an old tiger suffering from prostate problem….no balls!!
“It’s only words and words are all that I can give…to take your heart away”
Sentinel
July 23, 2011
Good piece. Mainly in the right and common sensical. The Third Force has already risen and was always there. The worry is who will be a permanent leader to represent this Third Force.
Remie
July 24, 2011
Yes, where were the Amanah people when the Rakyat marched on 09 July? In their splendid homes dressed in RED, stocked up with essentials.
Now, they come to the public, still dressed in RED and demanding that they will lead the 3rd force?
Hahahahahahaha!
rajan
July 24, 2011
In my opinion, i believe that amanah alias carimakan is out to expolit the momentum and the current anti bn feelings of the people who was subjected to so much of mental fear and anguish by jibby,mooudin,cartoon mouth and the sidekicks in the form of running dogs from mic , mca , ppp [shit shit shit in tamil ] ,geracunt etc.
Kuli can do a heart warming speech but gives a bad headache.
If we were to see who his machais are ,then it will be clear that umno will not give the time of the day to his current group.
No way.
Amanah can apply to join bersih grouping but with terms and conditions attached.Kuli cant expect to be named as the leader of bersih grouping.Seniority first.
I can accept hj hadi or anuar as pm but not kuli.Whether he is a prince or pirate i care not.
Really what is kuli’s achievement ?? Nothing ! 100% nothing .As in BN talk sweet talk ,caring talk, loving talk and then rape us for a free ride as pm. sorry !
The year now is 2011 not 1946. Forget about the feelings of 1946 lets look at the reality of 2011, in 1946 roti canai was 1cent now in 2011 its rm1.
Times have changed and kuli is out dated and an expired product.
In fact ,so much of misunderstanding about the consti was due to the leaders of 1946. Gentlemens agreement with a handshake which is now hijacked by umno to mean what umno want it to mean. like the social contract with a condom.
Decent people who care for the wellbeing of the country,their children and future generations will vote PR and there is no other choice other than PR.
Say no to kuli carma.
flyer168
July 24, 2011
Haris,
“Kuli to lead the Third Force? Against UMNO?”
Well said & yes, Bersih2 709 was & will be the True and Most deserving 3rd Force (Peoples’ Power) under the able Woman Leadership of Ambiga Sreenevasan.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy – Martin Luther King, Jr.
I am not interested in power for power’s sake, but I’m interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shalom.
CTLee
July 24, 2011
Brother Harris,
Thank you for good analysis. I will rather march with and RPK who have walk the talk then to trust this new thing call “Amanah”. Take care.
GAMMA RAY
July 24, 2011
A BIG NO TO EX PLUNDERERS, EX UMMO MINISTERS, EX CONMANS who has taken the rakyat for a ride for the last 50 YEARS….
WHERE THE HELL WAS KULI WHEN RAKYAT ATTACKED WITH TEAR GAS? WHERE WAS KADIR SHEIHK FADZIR? Now they want to ride freely on BERSIH.
BRO, With due respect to you and RPK……PLS FORGET ABOUT THIS OLD COCKS and lead this nation back to its GLORY.
NO MORE EX MIC MCA OR UMNO BASTARDS!!!!!!!
sinniahgopal
July 24, 2011
Harris,
What KU LI and gang are doing is “abandoning the sinking ship in a subtle manner” so that they are not caught out when the Third Force forces the change and demise of UMNO.
They are feeling the sinking ship. The dominoes are falling. Malaysians can sense it.
NoUmno
July 24, 2011
I fear KuLi has grown soft and disconnected from reality. He is talking about change and calling Malaysians to rise up against corruption, but he STILL CLINGS to UMNO – the very EVIL that is the source of much of our problems. He thinks that he can bring about change with “inspiring” talk, talk, talk, talk from his cushy chair in his nice office. No, KuLi… I, like millions of Malaysians look at you, hear you and say “Aiyah… you talk only. You want to bring change, YOU change first lah… Get out of UMNO!!!” As long as you remain in UMNO, you show yourself to be so lembit and rooted in the very evil you can only talk about changing. You want people to fall behind you? Walk in the next rally if there is one. And if you really want people to dream your dream, walk barefoot like Pak Samad. He walked the talk. You only talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.
Jong
July 25, 2011
Good speech from Tengku Razaleigh at launch of “AMANAH” – very touching and so true but nothing so new, not that we have not heard before!
That’s exactly what Pakatan Rakyat and MCLM have been saying all along! It’s too little too late now, with so many lives further destroyed by umno.
Initially we had much hope in him, that he would speak up for the Rakyat to confront those evil-doers within umno but he chose to sit by for a birdseye view. He failed us, my friends.
What took him so long and why now, …an opportune timing now that Bersih has done the clearing?
alex abraham
July 25, 2011
Well written Harris. Reading the many comments, its sad but true that we have become a nation of sceptics and hope has been banished from our lexicon as a result. But I still believe that change is coming. I just feel it.
alex abraham
NoUmno
July 25, 2011
And so does KuLi feel change coming. Alas, it’s not going to be him that’s bringing change with all his talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk and more talk.
Question : How do you know Ibrahim Ali is a moron?
Answer : By his talk.
Question : How do you know KuLi is so deeply entranched in UMNO he is scared as heck to leave – like a child hiding behind his mother’s (UMNO’s) skirt?
Answer : He keeps talking, talking, talking, talking, talking, talking, talking, talking…
farida
July 25, 2011
“FreeMalaysiaToday’s Syed Jamal Zahiid, who was at the launch, reports that Kuli “hinted” that Amanah ‘could possibly be the catalyst to a rising third force’.
Amanah the catalyst to a rising third force?
Quite clearly, Kuli and his fellow Amanites were not there at the rally on 709 to witness first hand that the Third Force had already arisen, and needed no further catalyst from anyone.”
Catalyst? Another hijacker is more like it.
sinniahgopal
July 25, 2011
NO WALK NO TALK, so Amanah no TALK, not the Third but a SPENT FORCE for retirement
matmalaysia
July 25, 2011
Hi Haris
Thanks for the insight on Amanah. I am one more issue wiser.
Regards.
Sean
July 26, 2011
Surely ‘The Third Force’ is a critical electorate with reasoned, respectable political demands? Why would they need leadership? Malaysia’s political problems are solely due to the electorate’s habit of seeking patronage. People are the boss; political representatives are their servants. Voters should be kicking arse – not licking it.
Ku Li is a great speechwriter, but I also believe he is UMNO’s most fervent supporter. He would be terrific as an Independent or if he was to start a new party again, but lose all credibility if he allowed himself to be co-opted by the other member of Malaysia’s political duopoly. At his age – and with the great respect I believe he is due for those contributions of which I am aware – Ku Li is a force that would have been better fully spent before its expiry date.
By all means seek outstanding people to laud as good examples to Malaysians – Hannah Yeoh consistently springs to mind. Ambiga is also someone of whom Malaysia can be proud. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj. I quickly run out of examples – everyone else whose name I think of, I can dismiss as blatantly holding at least one allegiance that is higher than ‘my fellow Malaysians’. Ku Li’s steadfast allegiance to UMNO makes me doubt he is a suitable role model for anyone other than keen speechwriters.
Jong
July 26, 2011
Tengku Razaleigh/AMANAH may harbour ideas of a ‘coup de grace’ on embattled Najib, but no way can he effectively do it.
‘Bersih 2.0’ may have had the arduous clearing work done but to do the job, you need bersih soldiers, not a bunch of umno/bn has-been generals!
Hmmm, he’s beginning to sound so familiar….!!!
Paul Warren
July 26, 2011
There are no words in my limited lexicon that can describe the Third Force. I was not in KL on 709. But I did join a small group in Auckland to render our support. I did attend Bersih 1 on 10.11.2007. If that was any barometer that might help to understand what The Third Force might be, I would say that it would be the experience, the spirit, the adrenaline, the emotion. Maybe, with the determined actions of the powers that be to ensure that experience fails to be realised, I would imagine the Richter scale would have hit an unassailable 10 for those who attended Bersih 2. No wonder one testimony after another that I have read so far in The Malaysian Insider, Malaysiakini and blogs, take me to a familiar place. Just that I wish I too had acquired the badge of honour that most of them wrote about.
Can that experience, spirit, emotion and adrenaline rush be replicated by superfluous speeches of an assembled line up of suspect luminaries? I don’t think so. I suspect the ‘opposition” is trying its best to redefine the Third Force. But to those who experienced 709, I suspect they will fail to fool them.
We should all be on the alert. On the one hand to mitigate the spiraling, cascading and the spreading of the spirit and emotion of the Third Force UMNO is doing its utmost to demonise it, its leaders and its participants. On the other, I see this Angkatan Amanah as nothing more than an attempt to hijack or redirect that spirit that came out of the genie’s bottle on 709.
lyon
July 27, 2011
Dear Haris,
I agree with your thoughts.
Those in Amanah who aspire to be a third force should leave their respective parties and only then can they be PART of the already formed ‘Third Force’
I walked on 709 and am proud to know that I was a contributor to the Third Force.
yusoff
July 30, 2011
keep on dreaming bro!!!