The purpose of this rally is very simple, I would say more than half of the Malaysians is asking for a simple thing - a FAIR and CLEAN election, that is what 'BERSIH' for. 'Bersih' means Clean in English.
Right before it started, the controlled media is trying very hard to persuade people NOT to participate in such a peaceful march, the police declare it is a illegal rally and it is dangerous when Molotov cocktails and machetes were found together with Bersih T shirts, they try to used all sort of scare and threat tactics on the people.
Days before the rally, I have been trying to persuade friends to go with me, most of them had no idea what is it about? I was quite disappointed because the day before the rally, none of my friends wanted to join, they concern about their safety, being arrested, getting themselves injured or killed, lost of jobs, etc.I totally understand them, but I don't want to force them to go too, luckily, I managed to contact a ex-colleague, he and his friend is going there, so I told him I am ON for the march! Please count me in and don't left me behind.
Things are very unclear before 9th July 2011, as I have friends who even think about stocking up food and water. Really crazy!!
Anyhow, once I get the txt from my colleague on where to gather, I told my mom that please drop me at the LRT station, because I am going for a rally. As predicted, my mom scolded me for being a 'Hero' and 'Idiot', start talking about Tian An Men incident, ask me why the hell I want to go? Only those who don't have a proper job will go, etc... But I am very determined to go, she know she can't stop me at all. She knows I am very hard headed and rebellious.
Well, here I board the train at Bahagia station around 10:45am, the train is very quiet, not many people there... when the train get closer to the heart of the city, I saw more people boarded the train, most of them carried a backpack with a small bottle of mineral water sticking out, some Muslims wore white cap, some uncles wear long pants BUT with sport shoes. Deep in my heart, I knew they are not heading KL for sightseeing.
The streets are pretty quiet around eleven something, I bumped into my friend. We took a table at Nam Heong Chicken rice store, all their staffs are wearing yellow color uniform serving the customers, all shops around the chicken rice store are closed. It makes me wonder if the owner of this shop actually supports the Bersih march?...
Everyone had their lunch of chicken rice in the shops like nothing happens, it was like the calm weather before the storm. But when minutes past, I did see more and more ppl stood near the entrance, they just stood there without a purpose, I can sense they are waiting for orders from someone...
A 70 years old uncle sat in front of me, he is alone. He asked me directly are you guys here for BERSIH while all my friends are away for toilet, I said 'yes' without hiding. He told me he had come for the rally too. He said the government is too much, now all of his kids don't want to come back to Malaysia! I understand how he felt, no parents wanted to leave their kids, but they have no choice, in order for their kids to have a better future out there.
After we have done with our lunch, it is closed to noon time, we saw more and more people coming from every corners, just like those HK gangster movie, you have all the gang members walked to the street from everywhere when they are summoned by the leader. within 15-20 minutes, the street is full with people, the police 'no crossing' line is broken. Ppl just don't give a damn anymore! They started to yell "Hidup Bersih" and "Hidup Rakyat". (Long Live the people)
To my surprise, the turn out rate of Chinese is quite high this time, what we know is Chinese is always scare of dead (kiasi), they try to stay away from trouble, their parents are always overprotecting the kids. The people on the street were united as the truly one Malaysia! Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans, Sarawakians, even a few tourist joined the cause and rally. The crowd filled up the entire road! It was history in making all in a sudden!
All the people started to marched to Maybank building, large group formed with large group and become a larger group. I think it easily shows more than 10k people, not the lies from the police chief and local media, telling us there are only 5-6k ppl turn out for the march. It take real guts to form such a large group despite police and officials had sent out warning to schools, universities, government servants, etc and requested them NOT to participate in this rally even their family members!
The people in the street are getting even more emotional when the first round of water canon fired at the crowd, followed by tear gas canisters. People started to disperse. First time I experience the smell of tear gas, The old Oakley sunglasses I have provide some sort of protection and coverage to my eyes. (I brought this just in case I was caught, I don't know if the police will keep my sunglasses or not). The feel is like someone used pepper water sprayed it to your face, it is not that harmful (maybe I am not standing close enough), but you gotta run for fresher air. The effect will recover after sometime, luckily I brought a handkerchief, I pour some water on it and cover my mouth and started to run away from the scene. I already lost my friends at that time.
......skipped.....
I was trapped in Tong Shin hospital with another few hundred BERSIH marchers for quite some time, they were forced into the building when cannons and canisters were fired to the crowd. I got to know from my friends that they are near the Chinese assembly hall at that time. And guess what, the FRUs fired tear gas canister into Tong Shin hospital! WTF?! What kind of people are they? Can we rely on these enforcers to protect the innocent people? They are peaceful marchers and they didn't damage anything while they stood in the hospital compound. The local printed medias printed LIES on the paper, the police chief claimed that they didn't do such thing, I believe hundreds of marchers can be the eye witness on this, you can even find photos and video clip that shows the proof.
We were forced to retreat further through the slopes behind the hospital. People were running like crazy, heard that police had captured 30+ people who is in the hospital compound. I marched further following the group of 100 people, they started to scattered and walk into different directions, the helicopters above us is monitoring the group movement, how we want to take it down?! But this is a peaceful march, we won't throw a single pebbles even if we can.
Around 5pm, the rally is over, heard there are a large group of members are heading to KLCC. I took a LRT back home when they open the gate. I sat inside the train, telling myself what a day! Feel like falling asleep after the whole day of walking... Salute to those who joined the march, I believe they will remember it for a long time just like me.
The below photos are a bit out of sequence, please start viewing from the bottom...
At 5pm, the street is slowly back to normal...
a hundred of marchers went into the shell station kiosk to buy cold drinks, I also dropped by to stock up my supply of food and water. just in case...
5-6k people attended huh? Are you kidding me?
Marchers were told to moved aside, so they can 'marched safely' to the stadium, but then the negotiater was being tricked, water cannons were fired at them!
The second round of water canon and tear gas are fired to the crowd, that is how I ended up running into Tong Shin hospital. There are Federal Reserve Units and police on both end of the road to trap the marchers.
This aunty is 79 y/o, her name is Anne, retired school teacher joining the march. She was sprayed 4 times on chemical water canons and gas-ed too, poor aunty, I wish I can carry her away the scene, but it was too chaotic at that time, everyone just started to run.
There are disabled marcher too. You think they really have nothing to do in the weekend?
Not sure if that a Bersih welcomed hotel?
Look at how the crowd gather!
The scene when I first arrived before 11am... it was so quiet before it was filled with ppl within 1 hr.
