9th of July, 2011. It is 4:04 am, the time I set my alarm. I woke, feeling still very drowsy for the night before I was too restless to sleep, checking twitters, online news portal comments, and facebook for the latest update.
I checked what I had prepared beforehand, handkerchief, phone fully charged, camera left at the office, oh well, I'll make do with my phone then. Clean set of clothing, 2 yellow t-shirts, 3 bottles of water, and a pack of candies. Wait, didn't I read somewhere about salt and saline water? So, I prepared some.
I washed up and change into my casual clothing, definitely not in yellow, it's illegal and might get me arrested.
It is 4:46am now, times to get a moving. The petrol in my car is just a little over half tank, that's no where near enough for my journey today. I'm coming down from Ipoh.
I drive to the petrol station nearby my house and fill my tank full. There was a patrol car and a policeman stationed there, it's 4:48am.
A few turns later, it is 4:54am and there was a road block in front of me, with another car already stopped by the road block. I slowed down, there were about 5 policemen in and around the block, may be more but I did not see them. The day is still very dark. The officer gesture me to wind down my window. In a friendly chatter manner he asked:"Where are you going, mister?" I lied:"Cameron". He immediately replied with an obvious relieved expression:"Oh, Cameron!" and wave me to pass.
On the North South Expressway, the traffic is smooth. But I have a long journey to take, I only made 1 stop at Ulu Bernam for my breakfast and buy some salty snack, as I suddenly decided that I'd rather have some salty snack then licking on salt if I needed be. Yes, pictures were playing in my head, about being sprayed with chemical laced water, of being tear gassed, and worst arrested and detained and made to stay in police lockup for two nights. I'm starting to feel uneasy about joining the rally, at the same time, this feeling also infuriated me. I have seen peaceful march before, I know how it should be conducted and how the police would manage it. I should not be made to feel fear and unease about thinking of joining a peaceful rally!
I checked, the time is now 6:00 am. I have obviously been speeding on the highway, but my mind is too occupied to notice it. Oh well, I still have to go to Kepong to meet up my friend, who is going to join the rally as well, and his brother too!
I arrived at the Sungai Buloh toll exit at 7:02 am, just after the toll, I was trapped in a slow moving traffic, a jam. I was thinking it can't be. True enough there was a road block, as far north as Sungai Buloh Toll exit from the North-South Expressway on route entering to KL. The police has locked down the city. There were many cars, keep changing lane and I see faces that are bored sitting in these cars. I started to wonder, how many of these people are liked me? Traveling from out of town to join the rally? I can't helped but also feel a little guilty and a little enraged that the police would resort to such manoeuvrings. I felt guilty for those who felt genuinely annoyed by the inconvenience caused by the road block, enraged because it doesn't have to be like this. This roadblock is unnecessary.
The jam made a normally 6 minutes drive to my friends place a journey of about 1 hour. I arrived at my friend's condominium at 7:54am. I checked in with the security guard and went up to my friend's place. We chit-chatted a bit, and he told me that his brother is camping out in the city since last night (8th of July). So we need to go into the city to meet his brother.
We went to have breakfast together, there we talked about many things, one is about a tweet on police going into the Light Rail Train (LRT)to check passenger IC. I said, this is exactly like scene played out in a Soviet Spy movie where secret police go into trains to check the Russians' ID. I can't believe I'll live to experience this in Malaysia.
We parked our car near the Kelana Jay LRT station, and take the train to enter the city. There were some confusion because both of us have not been taking the train for some time. Any how, we managed to arrive to KL city center via the Jalan Hang Tuah station. The feeling of this train ride into the city was surreal and yet intimidating. Police were deployed in every station. Due to our confusion, we had changed a few trains in a few stations before decided to come out at the Jalan Hang Tuah station. The atmosphere of the station is very intimidating with a heavy presence of police. Several police officers were shouting at a few person loitering in the station. Asking them loudly what were they doing loitering in the station and they were ordered to leave the station. There we decided to walk to Lowyat Plaza to do some window shopping as we arrived in the city center very early, just after 12noon.
1:27pm. Someone tweeted march started in Petaling Street. Then tweets of tear gas fired. We hurriedly left Lowyat Plaza and walk towards the Petaling Street via Jalan Pudu. From a far, we hear the chant. Hidup! Hidup!! Hidup Rakyat!! We were still unsure which rally this is for the news reported that there will be 3 different marches. 1 to stand up for free and fair election and the other 2 were to stop the 1 calling for free and fair election. So we wanted to make sure. But almost immediately, I'm sure for I saw my old secondary school mate. There is no way she would be supporting the other 2 marches. So we joined in the rally. It's 1:49pm. Not yet the "official" rally start time. The march was moving heading towards Stadium Merdeka. Then it suddenly stopped at the Menara Maybank. I started to feel uneasy. Wondering why we stopped? Aren't we supposed to march to the Stadium? But no one knows why we stop. And some politicians were rallying the crowds from the higher ground of Menara Maybank. It's 1:54pm on my watch, not yet time but I heard:"If you have a yellow shirt, put it on now" I was thinking hey it's not yet time. Then there were unease in the crowd, FRU with their water cannon truck show up on Jalan Bukit Bintang, on the wrong side of the road. I was thinking, hey! We should march, heading towards Stadium Merdeka. But there were no leadership in the crowd. This is a truly grassroots movement, there're no hierarchy of command. I look around, people were confused. We all didn't know what to do. Then applause broke out. There were another huge crowd coming in from where me and my friend were, along Jalan Pudu. The crowd is huge now. News reported 10,000 strong but it felt much larger, it felt like there were 100,000 of us.
I decided to move further away from the water cannon truck for I fear the chemical laced water. But still close enough to keep an eye on the water cannon. Then the crowd started running. The truck has started firing the water cannon. The crowd disperse, everyone is running. There were some brave souls shouting Jangan lari! Jangan lari! Rapat! Rapat! (Don't run! Don't run! Stay Close! Stay Close!). I find my friend and tell him to stay close. Tell him about what happen in the herds in the Wild Africa, where the isolated one is the one hunted down by the predators. We have to stay close to the main crowd. People are afraid yet defiant.
The water truck fired water cannon 3 times, stop momentarily in between and charged towards the crowd 3 times and pause momentarily in between. When the truck fire the water cannon the crowd run and disperse, when it stopped firing the crowd gathered back. It's like a cat and mouse game. But we are the mouse.
On the third charge of the water truck, I was running towards the Puduraya bus stop, by then the truck was very near to me. I was thinking oh shit! I will be hit by the chemically laced skin-irritating water. But the truck stopped. So I wasn't hit by the water. Thank God! Later found out that the reason that I wasn't hit was because there were a few brave soul standing in front of the water truck, refusing to bulge despite the water being sprayed onto them. One particularly brave man, despite his small frame, is seen walking towards the truck, forcing the water truck to retreat. I am nothing compared to these brave young men.
We were slowly regrouping, and then we hear it. The sound of tear gas being fired. We scattered again. But turned back once the gas dispersed. They only fired one canister. Perhaps as a warning shot. I lamented at a fellow marcher. "That's our tax money man!" He laughed.
Then the sound of tear gas firing is heard again. This time multiple shots were fired. All hell break loose. People are running everywhere, including myself. I was still able to think, but lost track of the wind direction amid the chaos, I saw my friend running into the Puduraya bus stop and I followed him. Big mistake, the tear gas inside the building is worse. I felt the pain in my eyes immediately. I didn't stop running. There were people spraying water using the fire hose-reel, but I didn't stop to wash myself like many did. I soak my handkerchief with the saline water I prepared earlier, and wipe my face and my eyes with it. It provide almost instance relief. I lost sight of my friend.
I call his handphone. He was ok. He had run further, he is in front of Tong Shin Hospital. I told him I'll come and join him. This time the crowd is obviously smaller. I know we had been broken apart by the police. There must be a few smaller group scattered somewhere nearby, separated by the police. I thought, ok, we are in front of the Hospital, perhaps, the police wouldn't be too extreme near a hospital. Though the crowd is smaller, I couldn't locate my friend. I walk towards the Lowyat plaza direction on Jalan Pudu, and saw another police truck stationed there and police men lined up. I turned and walk towards Menara Maybank, and saw the FRU truck and Police there. That's it, We are being boxed in from both side of the road. This is bad. My instinct is telling me to leave. I found some people leaving via a small staircase towards the back alley. I followed them. There Gobind Singh Deo appeared, I changed my mind. I turned back and approach Mr Gobind Singh and I shake his hand. Then a few more prominent Politicians from Pakatan Rakyat appear but I didn't see them. I walk towards the FRU truck, and see some movement. I think oh no! They are going to do something ruthless! My fear took over, I climbed the staircase towards the back alley. But didn't leave, just out of the main crowd in the main road. There I met another Politician, can't recall his name. He heads towards the main crowd, using the staircase I just climbed up from. I thought about it but didn't follow him. Only now I realized that it had started raining. The crowd had prayed that it would rain earlier. And God it seems has answered. One fellow marcher was asking his friend if he wanted to find out the latest news. I asked if I may join in. He's more than happy to share it with me. There we found out that Anwar was injured, Police beating unarmed people with their batons, and Nurul Izzah was arrested along. The arrest tally at that time was 452 if my memory served me right.
Then I decided I wanted to join back the main crowd. I cannot be such a coward to not stand firm with my fellow Malaysians. No matter how scared I am. Then I hear it again. Tear gas fired. People are running up the stair case. I turned and join them. We run towards an open car park, wrong decision again. The wind had brought the gas here. We were choked. I keep on wiping my face with my soaked handkerchief and the rain starting to pour heavier. Thanks God! I was thinking. I was lost. Not brave enough to turn back and join back the Tong Shin Hospital but unwilling to call it a day and go home. I was afraid, but defiant.
The rain is really pouring now. I'm in front of a commercial building. Two police men were stationed here. A few fellow marcher was walking towards a small alley at the side of the building. The police men called out to them. That was a dead end. If they took the route, they'll just make a circle and go back to where they came from. They advise to take the stair in front of the building, that would allow us to run away from the police. Imagine that police men advising us how to run away from the police.
Down the staircase, an old Makcik was sharing her big bag of salt for those exhausted to regain their energy. She gesture for me to take some. It is pouring heavily now. I'm already completely soaked. I turned down her kind gesture, telling her that I have brought some myself and thanked her. A Chinese aunty calling towards us, about joining back the Hospital Tong Shin crowd. I decided to follow her instruction.
I found myself in front of the Pahang state Sultan Istana. I'm on a hill just behind Tong Shin Hospital. Later I found out that my friend was trapped inside with thousands others. I hesitated. Couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to join in the trapped crowd now. There is a small back exit on my right that I could use to join back in. But it's obvious that my fellow marchers were trapped in the hospital. My instinct is telling me, bad idea to go in. True enough, the sound of tear gas canister fire is heard. The tear gas is spreading inside the Tong Shin Hospital Compound. People are scrambling to climb up the hill and over the fence. The few of us on the hill, directed some of the poor souls to the exit on our right. The gas is spreading towards us. I turned and walk down the hill away from the gas on the tar road.
At a T junction nearby, I met a few more fellow marcher, standing on the safety island, deliberating something. I stopped for a while to catch what they were doing. They were checking up on the latest development. I left them, and continue on. The surrounding looks familiar but I have no idea where I am. It's been a long time since my last visit to KL.
Then I found more fellow marchers heading in the same direction as I did. We walk along together. A father is shouting to his two teenage sons to slow down. No need to hurry, he said. I agreed. I said, we may need to conserve our energy for running later. He smiled. Then a taxi driver honked while passing by us. He was showing his support.
Then, two fellows on a motorbike appear, calling us to go to Jalan Bukit Bintang. One fellow has a red arm band on his right arm. I think he is the field commander for the rally. So, we proceeded towards Jalan Bukit Bintang, though I would have no idea if we were heading the right direction.
No worry, another taxi driver relieved me of my anxiety. He stopped in front of a taxi station, wind down his windows waving his hand pointing towards his right and shouting Pergi! Pergi! Bukit Bintang! Sana! We cheers and waved at him and heads towards the direction he's directing us.
I'm tired. My thigh and the palm of my feet is sore, and my knee aching. I sat down on a bus stop to take a rest. Drinking water and have some of the salty snack I bought earlier. The Pakcik sitting beside me said:"Inilah 1Malaysia!" I agreed. I offered him my last bottle of water, he said he has and didn't want to accept. I look at him and know that he has finished his water. I told him it's ok, I have plenty. I lied but he believed and received the bottle of water. It's obvious that he's exhausted and he needed the water more than I do. It's ok, I could always walk to a convenient store to replenish my supply.
On Jalan Bukit Bintang the crowd swelled to a huge group. Everywhere I see, I see people. One Malay chap was saying, "Cakap orang bantang perhimpunan ini, tengok! Lebih yang menyokong!" I answered, "Ya, rakyat bengang." He agreed. I looked around and realized why he said that. This is a truly multi-racial crowd. A few foreigners waving at us showing supports. The staff working in the upscale restaurant came out filming us and some shoot photos. The march become festive again.
A son and father was having a conversation. The son said, the police had allowed the march. The father disagreed. I checked Malaysiakini news on my phone. It seems Sivarasa managed to negotiate a passage with the Police, so we could march peacefully now. Then confusion. Suddenly the crowd was asked to turn back from heading towards the stadium. Now we are heading towards KLCC. I saw another Pakatan Rakyat Politicians. He said that's it folks, mission accomplished. Good job!
I'm confused. We haven't arrived at the Stadium yet! The crowd is now gathering at the traffic junction right in front of Kuala Lumpur landmark, the KLCC twin towers. It's 3:54pm. Helicopter is hovering on top of us. It has been but I have been ignoring it, blocking it out of my mind.
The crowd started to sit down. This is when I saw Chua Jui Meng in person. He appeared flustered, red all over, exhausted but also excited at the same time. The politicians took up a higher position and started talking, rallying the crowd. It's 4:15pm now.
I read on twitter, Bersih Steering Committee member Wong Chin Huat had called for the rally to be dispersed. I decided to heed his call and tell fellow marchers nearby me it's passed 4pm, we should disperse. I ignored the speeches of the politicians and made my exit. On my way out from the crowd, I saw a young couple appeared confused and seems undecided if they wanted to leave. I told them, it's passed 4pm, we should leave. They then followed me.
I walk towards KLCC thinking of taking the train home. But KLCC locked us out. The front door is barricaded and security guards deployed and would not allow us to go in. I was annoyed but proceeded to walk around towards the park behind, thinking may be I could enter via the park entrance.
Then I see people running. I heard tear gas fired. Two things come up on my mind. The politicians there were irresponsible. Instead of calling for the crowd to dispersed as promised when it's time, they continue to rally the crowd hoping to gain some exposure and political mileage. But the police should have also given some leeway allowing them some more time to disperse. Then I heard that the tear gas was fired from the helicopter. That made it worse on the police part. This means they did not issue warning of disperse before firing the tear gas canister. But I wouldn't know, I have left the crowd and these were just hearsay.
The LRT station in KLCC was closed. So as the Dang Wangi Station. I had walked for 1 hour to board the train heading Kelana Jaya in Kampung Baru Station. There I met a few more fellow marchers, who apparently had also walked from KLCC to Kampung Baru Station. We were all exhausted. In the train, at KL sentral station. More fellow marchers boarded the train. It seems they came together for the rally. One of their friends were arrested. They didn't seem to worry about their arrested friends too much. Lawyer was already there helping their friend, as I was told. One fellow was asking about the Patriot rally. I told them what I've read from Malaysiakini. There were about 500 showed up for the Patriot rally and Khairy Jamaluddin was arrested. One fellow chided "Wayang Kulit" (Just a show!)
Then another fellow wondering aloud about the Perkasa rally. Again I told them what I learned from Malaysiakini at the time. It seems there were 60 of them, showed up in Titiwangsa. The whole train burst out laughing.
In this rally, I believed many of us joined despite the fear. We were scared but we felt enraged enough to act. Some were so infuriated that they forgot about their fear. Some are still too afraid to take action. But we share the same outrage.
I have friends lamented at me for not inviting them to go together with me. I smiled and promised that I would invite them in the future if there were to be a Bersih 3.0. Some called me a hero. I could only thank them for their flattery. I do not feel like a hero. It is not a heroic act to join in a peaceful rally. The real heroes are Ambiga and the Bersih Chair and her steering committee. It was their principled stands that attracted people to their calls of free and fair election. It was their unwavering stands against the repressions, death threats, and slanders that infuriated many that were indifference. It was their integrity when stonewalled by the authority that inspired many to join in their rally. The Bersih was and still is NOT about challenging Islam or Malays right or Malays authority as some would like to argue. It is championing the rights of all: Malays, Chinese, Indians, Singh, Kadazan Dusun, Iban Dayak, Orang Asal, and the "lain-lain". It is about a clean, free, and fair election that affects every Malaysians. It is a multi-racial movement.
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