MALAYSIAN, and proud of it!

This is my story about the rally last Saturday.


62 NGOs (including some of the very respectable ones) came together, with Datuk Ambiga at the helm, to form a coalition (BERSIH) and they had been trying to lobby for clean and fair election since 2006. Their tireless effort have not bear any fruit, the EC and the government did not heed their calls. So they need to show that they have support of the general people and to tell the EC and the government to take them seriously. Hence, the rally is called. The cause is noble, to me, no one with the right mind can reject clean and fair election. But what motivated me to show my support was the stupid way the government and police handled the situation before the event even started, the attacks on Ambiga, the lies about giving us a stadium, the police intimidation and bullying, the stupidest 'advert' on TV against it, etc.. I felt our intelligence and sense of righteousness were seriously being challenged.

A few days before the event, I was trying to persuade my husband to go with me. I was too scared to go alone into the unknown, never been to a demonstration before in my life. My hubby was reluctant but I kept thinking of ways to go there, whether my friends are going too.

Then when the morning came, I still wasn't sure how or with whom to go with. The whole morning I was bugging my hubby, finally, he relented. We called the in-laws and said we have something urgent to do and we left the 3 kids to them at 11am. My hubby made some calls and we knew that driving to KL was impossible, roadblocks have been set up everywhere. One of his friend was stuck in traffic and at long last gave up going there. My unusually smart hubby suggested going by train from UKM KTM. There was parking and there were no crowd. Only a few uniformed police officers standing around there. I told my hubby, try to be as low key as possible. We didn't even wear yellow but choose black so as to be less obvious.

Empty Street of Jalan Pudu

The the train trip was smooth, police presence was at every station but we didn't attract attention to ourselves. We change to LRT at Tasik Selatan and from my earlier checks with a friend, our best stop is at Pudu. So we reach Pudu without a hitch. On the LRT, we saw a group of middle age men in t-shirts and bermudas and they looked like they were out of place. These seemingly well-to-do men that should be on their Benz or BMWs. One of them commented that he had not been on a LRT for years, reminding me that I am the same. In my heart, I suspected that they were there for the same reason as us.

We passed by the old Pudu Jail on foot.

We alighted, saw two young chinese guys who seemed to also look like they were there for the same reason, we tried to follow them. But they walked too briskly, and my hubby also said he knew the way, so we walked in different ways. We headed down the empty road. On the other side of the road, we saw a few people also walking, we didn't know if we were going to the right place but hubby said we should go to the stadium so proceeded there.  In front of us were 2 malay young men, each holding a mineral water bottle. My hubby, the friendly dude that he is, said hi to one of them and asked them where they were going. I would have hit him in the head if we were not in public. As expected, he hesitantly said "Jalan-jalan." and I answered softly, "Kita juga". They walked much faster and we lost sight of them at the bend and we came to the old Pudu jail. 

We reached Hang Tuah LRT station, and the station was closed. As we were well-informed, we had exited earlier. It was almost 1pm, we didn't know what to do. So we went to a restaurant below the flats there and had some drinks. Even bought 2 bottles of mineral to go. I think the 2 elderly couple must be doing good business that day. We finished our drinks, had our toilet breaks and thought it was time to move on. We went back on to the main road and opposite the road was Masjid Albukhary. We waited under the LRT track, some others were there already. One of the malay man gave me a friendly smile, I smiled back but dare not strike any conversation. We were cautious, maybe they were plain clothes policemen. We were then joined by 2 more groups of young chinese. 2 large traffic police bikes and their police owners were already blocking the road leading down a lane which I believe was one of the ways to the stadium. We waited, not sure what were we waiting for. But I told my hubby, we need to follow the crowd and not trying to go to the stadium on our own too early because we may be chased away or even caught too early. I also overheard a chinese man saying that there were tear gas and water canon fired at some other place, that got me a bit worried.

People waiting in front of Masjid Alburkhary

About 1.30pm, the people inside the masjid began to move out, I presume they have completed their prayers or something. One of them looked at the opposite side of the road where we were and gestured for us to come over. We immediately did. At that time a police car had arrived on our side of the road and stopped a little way in front of us. So I knew we had better move away. We waited awhile in front of the masjid and people began to gather. One guy said "Kita pergi ke Menara Maybank". So we began to walk, instinctively, we tried to follow a few chinese in front of us, I think about 200 to 300 of us, walking by the road side peacefully, quietly. I felt excited that we were finally 'doing it'. On the way, we stopped at a Mamak shop that has the name "Insaf" which was really funny as that's what the government need to do. We went in to have a leak and I saw the smiling mamaks taking out boxes of mineral water to sell to the people walking by. I told my hubby to buy some water to show support, instead he bought some chewing gum. And we continued to walk.

When we reached Tong Shin Hospital, everyone stopped. Apparently, we couldn't proceed as the FRUs were already in front of us. By now there were a few thousand of us then. We were like right at the end of the group. I notice that the security officer at the Tung Shin hospital which is beside the Tung Shin maternity hospital began opening their gates which was closed before that. I was thankful in my heart as I was thinking the management was lending us a hand. Shortly after we stopped, another FRU group made a lined and block the road from where we came. We waited, not sure what to do. A malay man in yellow Bersih t-shirt, was sitting on another man's shoulder and began to address us, we cheered, clapped and chanted "Hidup Bersih!", "Reformasi".

A picture from the Internet, Tong Shin Hospital

Suddenly, a little panic broke out, people were running towards the way we came but there was already FRU in front. We were trapped. Many people rushed into the hospital and we rushed in too. We went to the covered parking lot just in front and watch from there. There were still a few hundred people on the road, grouping together and didn't budge. These are the brave front-liners. From then on, it was a long waiting game. Some chants were heard but no major movements from either sides. Even when it started to rain heavily, the heroes, the brave front liners didn't move. I was really impressed and guilty at the same time. I was more worried about getting wet and continued to wait and look from the 1st floor of the 3 level parking lot. Everyone was taking picture, videos and texting on their mobiles.

Ninja Viv

Maybe the police grew tired of waiting, they started to fire tear gas in front and into the hospital. They also sprayed some blue chemical water into the car park where I was. Since I was on the 1st floor, not much of it came in, I ran to the inner part and hid behind a parked car while updating my facebook status on my mobile. When the smoke grew thicker, everyone was running away and into the main hospital lobby and corridors of the side buildings. That was when I took out my hankies, gave one to hubby and put my sunglasses and mask on.I could smell the choking smoke but I was not badly affected. Some people began shouting at the FRUs, "Polis bodoh, ini hospital lah!". But a few cool headed men reminded us not to instigate any hatred and retaliation. I was pleasantly surprised.

Then on, it was another waiting game. It didn't look like anything was going to progress and it was already about 4pm. My hubby said we need to get home to the kids, but there was blockade in front. We decided to go to the side of the hospital and climbed the fence to the road side, I haven't climbed a fence for awhile! We still lingered awhile by the road side wondering what to do as the FRUs has moved a little ahead now and is right in front of us. We overheard that PKR's Sivarasa was negotiating with the police a few meters in front of us. We decided to bravely walk pass them and we went to the opposite side towards the newly refurbished Pudu bus station. Later, I found out that we were lucky to have left then because it turned out that police allegedly was going to allow the people to march through but when people went down to the main road again, the police started firing more tear gas and rushed to arrest people even in the compound of the hospital.

Back to us, we had to climb another waist height fence to get to Kotaraya as the Puduraya station was closed. We wanted to proceed to Pasar Seni station to catch a train home but when we reached the junction to Petaling street, we saw the opposite corner chinese resturant that sells nice food was opened and people were eating inside. Although there was another FRU unit in front, blocking the way towards Pasar Seni, we decided to eat at the restaurant and my hubby needed to pee (again), anyway. Just as we sat down and my hubby left for the men's, a few tear gas was fired at the junction at the side and in front of the shop. I didn't think it was that bad until my whole face felt burning and I couldn't breathe. The lone girl in front of me had to abandoned her half eaten hokkien mee and run. Another indian man who just had his chicken rice delivered in front of him didn't manage to touch his food. The stall keeper (who seemed Burmese), quickly left the change for the indian man's chicken rice on the table and ran towards the back of the shop. Smoke was filling the whole shop, everyone, including me, had to escape. I saw the shop owner washing his face at the basin and other patrons were doing the same. My hubby didn't managed to pee and was also there coughing and his eyes were blood red. I saw an empty basin and started to wash my face and that helped a lot. We went to the back of the shop where a small group of people were recovering from the effect. Some nice people were passing salt around and we took a little each and put it into our mouths. It helped clear our throat and nasal. One stall keeper was scolding profanities in Cantonese at the police. Even now, I couldn't understand why the police fired the tear gas there. At that time, there were not many people around there, most people have been dispersed. I think, maybe they have been given a quota to achieve, so in order to go home sooner, they had to finish their tear gas and water canon quota, so they were trigger happy.

When we recovered enough, we knew we cannot eat the nice food there anymore. So we moved towards Pasar Seni, right through the FRUs and the many policemen there. I saw from the opposite side that the LRT station was also closed. My hubby asked a few blurry looking men in front of Pasar Seni if the station was closed. We got an unfriendly 'yes' answer. Those men must be policemen in plain clothes but my very BLUR hubby asked further, "Macam mana mau balik?". I was about to die of shock but I still managed to ask if KTM station was opened. Luckily the men said yes and we quickly said thank you and left them. We walked towards the KTM station and in front of POS Malaysia, a large group of uniformed postmen were standing there, watching. Hubby met an ex-colleague loitering in front of POS Malaysia and we chatted for a minute before we walked on to the KTM station. Journey home was smooth, the police presence was still heavy in all stations but we didn't face any issues.

That was my first experience participating in a demonstration for a cause that I strongly support. It was also my first experience being teared gas, climbed over fences, getting myself dirty and drenched but feeling excited and a little worried at the same time. But most of all, I was feeling more MALAYSIAN then ever. The unity of the people was unmistakeable, people of all races, all ages, we were all there for the same purpose. No words were needed, we all understood the purpose we were there. We listened and obeyed the instructions by persons unknown to us. It was a beautiful feeling and I would proudly do it again, like the auntie here.

Lady of Liberty, Annie Ooi. An exemplary for all you chickens (no offense intended) out there!