BERSIH 2.0 : My Story (Bryan Khoo)

Since many people asked what is my experience at bersih 2.0, I decided to write my own experience in it. While media told us how horrible of the rally, for me this is a very sweet and memorable experience. I hope I can put this memory and experience deep in my heart even until when I am old.

The Reason I March
Global economy is in chaos, yet our government didn't find a good solution to it. Corruption is still rampant, and politician keep creating racial and religious issue to spoil this country harmony. We all know that we need to change the government, but how can we change if our electoral process is unclean? After I know about Bersih 2.0 purpose, I feel that it is time for me to take part in it too.

Before 709
I met my friend Pang, and he told me his intention to join bersih too. So we concluded that we will go together that day. As most people know, the week before bersih government use every things they can to scared and even threaten citizens to join. Some of my friend encourage me to join yet some say I am stupid and why we bother to care. I even told my parents that I decided to join, as parents they not encourage me due to safety reason and I know that because they care for me. My brother even told me his friend's father warn that chinese better dont go as police will purposely catch chinese and beat us up.(The another old MCA  stupid and racist thinking). Despite all these, I still decide to go although I am really scared and I cant even sleep properly the night before due to anxiety.

The Yellow Revolution

9th July 2011, I woke up at 7am. After pack my stuff I go and meet my friend, we proceed to KTM Kajang. Once we reach KTM Kajang, there are about 6-8 police patroling and standing near the entrance. I am scared like shit that they will question and check my bag as I got bring (towel, salt, water ) which are use for rally. But luckily they didnt bother us. So I buy a ticket to KL Sentral. When we got in the train, the atmosphere is so scary as everyone keep silence and some only whispering. I noticed many Kelantanese malay on the train as I recognized their slang.

Once we reach KL Sentral, there are even more police at there. And many malay stop by police (especially those who wearing kopiah). So we went to McD to have breakfast. In McD there are full of chinese, and by their attire we can guess they are also going for the rally. While eating we are discussing on the next plan as we don't have a plan at all. At 10am, we decided to go to Pasar Seni by LRT, and we met a new friend Tan who is going alone so we asked him to join us.

Once we reach Pasar Seni, we can see many police truck along the road as we walk towards Petaling Street. To my amazed Petaling Street filled with some amount of people. Some stall even selling soya juice and shirts. As we wait the time to pass, some people from bar council arrived wearing formal then some people from PKR also here. Live updates from our friend say that police already starting to catch people and using tear gas in other part of the city. At 12pm, we deciding to walk towards stadium Merdeka stadium to have a look. But half way we saw many media, reporters and plain clothes police. My daring friend Heng even took their picture, then suddenly a group of police walk toward us and ask him to come over. That time we are so scared, OMG are we going to detain by them. But the police only ask my friend's ic to check whether he is a blogger. They also say they won't kacau us and ask us don't go any further. To our relieved we turn back to Petaling Street.

The wave begin

More and more people were around petaling street and suddenly we saw a huge crowd walking towards us  and shouting. Everyone start to ask is bersih? patriot? or perkasa? When they got nearer, at last we saw many of them wearing yellow and shouting Bersih! Bersih!... So we are very excited and ask people around us to join in the group. That time there are about 1000-2000 and the number keep growing. The group was growing so fast as people keep joining in from different corner of the streets. Everyone is so happy, some carrying flowers, balloons, Malaysia flags and so on. Then we proceed to Maybank Tower and we joined by other groups that travel through different routes and our number grow to more than 10,000. Everyone is so happy, we shout Bersih! Reformasi! and some even singing. The rally is so peaceful and cheerful like we are going to a grand concert but the performers are everyone of us.

Tear gas & Chemical Water

When we are still celebrating. Suddenly... Bang!!! Bang!!! police start to shoot tear gas and spray chemical water. This is the most touching part, many Malay friends actually ask us chinese to stand back and hide behind. Those Malay friends who mostly Pas members actually stand in the front line and protect us. At that moment we are so angry as police start to firing tear gas at us without any warning. We are just gathering peacefully why they treat us like that? The rain start to fall and at last the police trap us in the middle of Puduraya and shoot tear gas from 2 directions. One of the tear gas canister even fell beside me. The effect of tear gas is so pain, as my eyes start to tears and we cant breathe properly. The crowd begin to disperse and some of us ran uphill to Tung Sin hospital. Some malay friends even offer us some salt to ease our pain and I also share my water to another malay guy to wash his painful face. When we thought police wont attack the hospital, suddenly we saw tear gas canister fell straight into hospital compound! Damn, why they even shoot hospital. Eventually there are some people cut fences on top of the hill and we escape through the fences, many malay actually offering help and let us chinese and indian pass through first. We continue to walk until we reach Jalan Raja Chulan. But we broke up with some of our freind during the chaos so we go to Pavillion to meet and take a rest. I heard from other people that another rally begin in KLCC. But we didnt join in anymore and just look from a far distance.

At last things begin to settle down then we rest at bottom of KLCC, then there are group of Malays also sat beside us and start to talk to us. They told us that : We are very happy and touched that even chinese now also willing to join us in the protest, let us continue to fight for a better Malaysia and most important is we dont give up. Jangan putus asa bro!

I am so touched by his words... this is very true as last time we chinese are more interested to earn money and mind our own business. Dear friends, it is time for us this generation to stand up. We not stand up as chinese, malay or indian. But we stand up as Malaysia! I never regret for joining this rally as I am convinced that Malaysia is still a very good place for me and my future generation. The government may be sucks, but most Malaysian are still loving and caring regardless of race and religion.

I also won't blame the police as they are just following orders. But the main culprit are those person who still siting so comfortable in Putrajaya and giving stupid orders.

As conclusion, I strongly believe Malaysia is still a lovely country and hope that more friends can stand up together to create a better future for our next generation. Hidup Bersih!!!~ and Hidup Malaysia!!!~

Special thanks to my friends who walk with me together that day

and our brave photographer

Heng