iWITNESS Institutions entrusted to safeguard the integrity of the nation are unable to manage the new colour coded and non-racialised politics of Malaysia.

This is evidenced by the responses and actions of the Executive, the police, the Election Commission, the main stream media and the Judiciary, particularly magistrates, towards a citizens' programme for fair and free elections.

On July 9, the ‘Starbucks generation', the baby boomers and Gen X united in a march through the streets of a city that was ordered to be shut down by authorities to prevent the Bersih 2.0 rally for electoral reforms.

I arrived at KL Sentral around noon to join the gathering, very much motivated by the totally unjust arrest of Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, Parti Sosialis Malaysia vice-chairperson M Sarasvathy and four others.

Malaysians and tourists had taken almost all seats in the eateries at KL Sentral, and except for the heavy police presence, it was a normal Saturday. I bought an LRT ticket for the ride to Pasar Seni.

NONEThere were a few people in the train, which did not stop at Pasar Seni. Instead, it was announced that the train was not stopping there for security reasons. If so, why were tickets sold for Pasar Seni? Why didn't the LRT authorities announce in KL Sentral that trains would not stop at Pasar Seni?

As integrity is an important part of the daily business of the LRT system, members of the public should have been informed at KL Sentral that the train would not stop at Pasar Seni.

We had to get off the at Dang Wangi station. I walked in an almost deserted city towards the Puduraya/ Maybank junction, and soon witnessed for the first time how the police manage their colour-coded politics.

Several policemen were scuffling with a man in a white jacket and blue jeans , a smart combination. As the police tried to strip him of his jacket, he cried out "Hidup Rakyat" several times. Then, we saw what the police were after - his yellow T-shirt.

I thought that in my spotted leopard pants, orange blouse and a Balinese farmer's hat, I would escape the wrath of the police. That was wishful thinking.

NONESoon I was with thousands of people standing and watching the helicopters, and people being chased from the area around the Maybank. There were tourists from the West, too. I did not see Bersih or Pakatan Rakyat leaders. I did not hear the sounds of Bersih or Reformasi there.

A bell rang - people remarked that we should move before the tear gas is ‘showered' on us. The crowd moved slowly as there were thousands. I must have just walked a few steps when I heard the explosion of teargas canisters.

It rained tear gas, people began running. Someone fainted and was lying on the road. People stopped and attended to this person. No police came forward to help. People have integrity, for they did not abandon the person lying on the road.

My eyes hurt, for my wide hat and goggles gave little protection. I saw the tourists wiping their teary eyes and walking away grimfaced. The integrity of Malaysia's tourism industry has come into n doubt, for the safety of tourists must be protected at all times during their stay here.

A Pakcik put out his hand and offered salt in his palm to all. Here was an individual with integrity. He was not selfish and did not think of himself.

I moved on to get some relief from the pain and the rain. I took refuge along the corridors of the Ancasa Hotel, which had its doors locked. I was soon very roughly elbowed at the side of my left breast by a policeman, who, with his colleague, practically ‘carried' a man away as his wife cried, "Tolong, tolong jangan ambil dia".

The man was being arrested without being told of the reason for his arrest. His crime? Wearing a yellow T-shirt? Yet again the police failed to exercise integrity in the way they treated those who were arrested.

This is a violation of the fundamental rights of an individual. No respect was shown towards women - the police pushed, elbowed and shoved us.

NONEWe were not safe from those entrusted to protect us. I decided to continue my walk but as the pain increased, I knew I may not be able to take another round of physical abuse from the police.
I stopped by at a café and joined a group that had gone through rounds of tear gas as they took refuge in the Tung Shin Hospital grounds. A police force that does not respect the sanctity of a hospital has no integrity.

The police were clearly on orders to use force, intimidation and tear gas on ordinary people taking part in a programme for a better electoral process.

The heavy headed actions on the part of the police, the heavy use of tear gas, water cannons and the arrests of about 1, 700 people, the death of Baharuddin Ahmad, the unethical journalistic reporting by the mainstream media of July 9 events have all tested the nation's integrity system.

Malaysians from all walks of life and across generations came together in Kuala Lumpur and in about 30 cities around the globe to participate in a reform programme for a higher standard of governance in the national integrity system, which includes the Election Commission.

The National Integrity System includes the Executive, Parliament, Judiciary, the Election Commission, the police, the media and civil society. All these pillars of integrity play important roles in the electoral process. Reforms are not only initiated by politicians and policy makers but also by members of civil society.

The Bersih Election Reform Programme is turning into a movement, thanks to the attempts of the government to repress the expression of public sentiment on the electoral process. The government has also shown that it miscalculated the power of non-racial colour coded politics.

Retired teacher Annie Ooi was questioned by police as to why she was wearing a yellow T-shirt. Her response - "Why can't I wear yellow?" - has inspired thousands of citizens to support the goals of Bersih's electoral reform programme, now a movement.

Like Ooi, thousands of Malaysians also braved the tear gas, water cannons and rain to say ‘no' to divisive politics and policies of the last 50 years.

The government's integrity was tested by the strength of golden yellow and the will of ordinary Malaysians to come together for a reform of the electoral process for a better Malaysia. Has the government passed the test?

 

JOSIE M FERNANDEZ is secretary-general of Transparency International Malaysia and attended the July 9 event in her personal capacity.