YOURSAY 'The main culprit was the heat. After that, everyone was simply too exhausted to focus and join in the chants.'

Black 505 rally ends, dozens camp in Padang Merbok

your say chinese versionGoodToBeMalaysian: I walked from Brickfields to Padang Merbok and stayed for the duration of the rally.

Going by past rallies, this one is a flop. Let's call a spade a spade. Black 505 rally organiser Rafizi Ramli, if you're reading, here's my feedback to you.

The main culprit was the heat. The walk and the heat - sweat flowing down like a stream - took their toll. After that, everyone was just too exhausted to join in the chants.

The poor makeshift PA (public address) system and stage did not help either. The speakers were hidden behind the trees. There was a disconnect between the speakers and the audience to provide the "uuumph."

Had this rally been held at Stadium Merdeka at 7pm, it would surpass the May 8 Kelana Jaya rally - haze or no haze.

Evening rallies with lighting, reasonable stage and sound system (which need time to set up) are the ingredients to past successes. So keep to the winning formula. Don't fix what ain't broke.

However, despite the relatively low turnout, I'm certain the rakyat are still with you.

Ferdtan: The Black 505 rally at Padang Merbok ended with a lower than expected turnout. It is quite an anti-climax when compared to the April 28, 2012 Bersih 3.0 ‘street rally'.

Then the crowd was massive. Possibly one of the reasons, as one commentator had mentioned, there was a lack of ‘excitement' in the form of tear gas and water cannons. "If there is, then it would be fun," he said. How true.

There were many participants sitting - spread out around along the nearby roads and shady places, not specifically at the main rally area, Padang Merbok, doing their own things.

There seem to be a lack of attraction to keep the crowd in one place. It could be due to the heat and the long hours before the programme really got started. Many of us were there by 11am.

In between lunch until 3pm when it got under way, it already had been four hot and tiring hours. Many participants, including us, left at around 4pm.

The organisers should have limited the time like the Bersih 3.0 rally did; say by 3pm - then the impact would be greater.

Anyway, it was still a good rally. Everyone had fun and it looked more like a family day at the field. Indeed, the biggest winners are the traders selling drinks, food and T-shirts.

Appum: The heat was mostly caused by the haze. Kudos to the police for their restraint and help (Let's give credit where credit is due. But no thanks to DBKL though.)

Oh, by the way, former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the crowd didn't show a Chinese tsunami, did it?

Kookie: It is not the numbers that is important. It is the ethnic composition and it shows that there is solidarity among the Malays, Chinese and Indians.

What appears to be more obvious from the photos is that the bigger majority of the participants seemed to be Malays, which is very encouraging.

Mavelikara: Army may be deployed! Participants of the rally have been directed to provoke the police! These were totally unnecessary statements.

Those on both sides of the political divide and public officials must act and talk responsibly.

Gen2: People can be charged for spreading rumours to create fear. What if a police officer creates a rumour, for example, that the participants have been asked to provoke the police? Can he prove it?

If not, can he be charged with creating rumour meant to create fear in the public? This is what the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) is meant for - to control rogue police.

Victor Johan: Being finally at Padang Merbok is deemed as playing a role in national service for our beloved country - a citizen's national responsibility (CNR).

Hang Tuah: If the police don't provoke or fire tear gas, there will be no trouble. I repeat again, if only the police don't provoke, there will be no trouble.

Quigonbond: It appeared that the crowd was "only" 30,000. BN will probably laugh at Pakatan Rakyat that the protest against electoral fraud is petering off and congratulating themselves for allowing 622 to go on peacefully. They couldn't be more wrong.

Pakatan is just keeping the issue warm. After 15 rallies, threat of military violence against peaceful protestors, and a worsening haze, it's no chicken feed that they can still get a crowd of 30,000 people.

In the days to come, parliamentary proceedings will be where the fight is. And on top of that, BN will have to contend with the people's tribunal. Malaysians will also grow in sophistication to hit BN where it hurts them most.

Umno's institutionalised propaganda machine can never beat the collective genius of volunteers determined to make the country a better place. And we can always rely on an oversized cabinet to shoot themselves in their collective feet.

BN may think they are getting a reprieve. Their nightmare has only just begun.

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