I refer to malaysiakini report Protestors hold second toll demo. It is to the credit of our police force that they did not use excessive force on the demonstrators. I believe the new IGP has learned from lessons of the past when his FRU men had beaten blue black those unfortunate individuals at past demonstrations. Nowadays, our NGOs are very vocal about local issues that affect the public and the government cannot use its policemen to keep peaceful demonstrators off the streets.

In a civilised and open society, peaceful demonstration should be allowed for the public to air their grievances. Our citizens are not the loud and boisterous types like in some other countries where people and policemen are known to have been injured or maimed due to violent demonstrations.

We need to let the people to 'let off their steam' on any issue that affects their bread and butter. Letting the pent up frustrations build up and simmer is not good as these individuals who feel that their voices cannot be heard might resort to violent acts later.

The government should put its ear to the ground and listen to public grouses and treat those Malaysians who resort to street protests with proper decorum and respect. Neither should the powers-that-be resort to the notorious ISA rule to silence critics of the government.

If the government had been transparent in their system of governing this country, no individual or group would have to resort to street demonstrations to highlight public anger at government policies which affect the common people's rice bowls.

In other modern and civilised societies, people are known to take to the streets to protest government policy but we don't see their policemen using strong-arm tactics to subdue these demonstrations. Our government should emulate these countries when dealing with locals in order to win the hearts and minds of its voters.

Anyway, the record had shown that public demonstrations normally fizzle out after some time and it would be a good PR exercise for our men in blue if they don't beat up and injure people taking part in peaceful demonstrations.