Press statement by Teresa Kok, MP for Seputeh and DAP National Organising Secretary in Kuala Lumpur on 2 November 2011
Maglin Dennis D’Cruz’s directive to exclude and destroy audio and video recordings of Bersih 2.0 is a denial of the facts of Malaysian history
Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D’Cruz’s directive to exclude audio and visual recordings of the Bersih 2.0 rally from the National Archives and his desire to have them destroyed reveals Barisan Nasional (BN) Government’s denial syndrome and its foolishness in trying to erase the facts of history. (Source: 馬格林：活動“摧毀”國家‧檔案局不收藏凈選盟文件http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/225108?tid=1 )
His wild accusation that the Bersih 2.0 civil society movement for clean and fair elections “destroys the state” and causes “national unrest” is preposterous because it is and has always been strongly opposed to the use of violence.
The Bersih 2.0 public rally held on 9 July 2011 was a day to remember in Malaysian history because on that day, 50,000 Malaysians of all backgrounds and ethnicities walked for electoral reform. D’Cruz should not insult the intelligence of the 50,000 Malaysians by suggesting they were anything but peaceful.
Any “national unrest” which occurred was in fact caused by the BN Government which installed unnecessary road blockades, causing massive traffic jams in and around the city, inconveniencing thousands and further employed disproportionate use of force in the form of tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons to attack peaceful and unarmed Bersih 2.0 supporters.
It’s ironical that D’Cruz made this statement at the National Archives when the National Archives is meant to be a repository of Malaysia’s history based on fact and evidence, not partisanship.
Perhaps the true reason he would like to have the audiovisual evidence of Bersih 2.0 destroyed is to hide the Government’s oppression and abuse of power.
Furthermore, his directive to the National Archive will only make Malaysia an international laughing stock as video clips of Bersih 2.0 have already been broadcast throughout the world and can be easily found all over the Internet.
D’Cruz can destroy the physical audio and videos of Bersih 2.0 but he can never erase the memory of 9 July 2011 from the minds of the 50,000 Malaysians who marched for clean and free elections.
He cannot erase the memory of the pain and suffocation felt by them when they were hit with tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons.
And he cannot erase the feeling of solidarity and pride felt by each of them when they recognised in each other, not a Melayu, a Cina or an India, but a fellow Malaysian who shares the same dream of a more democratic and socially just Malaysia, and is willing to stand up for it.
Teresa Kok