Wrong to compare Bersih rally with Arab Spring

PETALING JAYA: Amanah president Mohamad Sabu (pix) has lashed out at those comparing the Bersih rally to the Arab Spring.
"It is just an excuse made by those who do not want to join the Bersih 5 rally," he said in a statement today.
Although Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, did not mention any names, he was probably referring to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who yesterday said the Bersih rally could end up in bloodshed, similar to the Arab Spring in 2011.
Mohamad said comparing the two would be nonsensical as the first Bersih rally took place in 2007, before the uprisings and armed rebellions that spread across the Middle East only four years later.
He pointed out that peaceful demonstrations have taken place in the country even since before independence, involving various political parties, NGOs and student groups.
"Bersih's rally in 2007 proceeded peacefully, followed by Bersih 2, Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, and later Bersih 4. Demonstrations calling for clean and fair elections has been going on for a long time.
"It has nothing to do with the Arab Spring. It's really stupid for anyone to say Bersih is a copy and continuation of the latter," he said.
The Bersih 5 rally is set to take place on Nov 19.