PAS Youth: 'Sit down, debate' theme for Bersih 4.0

PAS Youth said today that instead of going to the streets again to demand that the Election Commission implements Bersih's electoral reform demands, Bersih 4.0 should instead be a 'sit down and debate' (duduk debat) event.

In a statement today, PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hasan said this was because an avenue for Bersih to state its case was needed to counter the smear campaign following the pockets of violence during the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally.

"Today, and I believe it will continue until the general election, they portray Bersih 3.0 as violent to sway public perception without giving the same space for Bersih to state its case on television and the mainstream media.

"So I suggest that Bersih 4.0 should be in a different format, that is 'sit down and debate'... (between) PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Umno president Najib Abdul Razak at Dataran Merdeka, while the rakyat peacefully assembles there," Nasruddin said.

Strength of argument, not argument of strength

He said such a debate would fit the new political climate that supports "the strength of arguments and not the argument of strength".

"It will be a historical feat. This country's future will be shaped through a government elected because the rakyat buys their arguments, and not because they were forced with batons, tear gas and chemical-laced water," he said.

Nasruddin added that Bersih had tried many avenues, from sending memoranda to lodging reports with many bodies even prior to the first rally in 2008 and yet their demands have not been met.

"Instead, the Umno/BN government claims Bersih sponsored violence and riots.

"It derided Bersih's noble efforts by using the Federal Reserve Unit to fire tear gas and chemical-laced water, the police to detain and assault, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to weigh the amount of rubbish left, the National Fatwa Council to forbid the rally and the mainstream media to create a sub-real situation," he added.