Buddhists For Bersih 4

Question thrown at Buddhists For Bersih 4: Why must you do a dedicated "Buddhist" for Bersih, why can't you join all as Malaysians? Anyone can help answer?

Answer from Goh Tay Hock:
I do agree that it is not necessary that buddhists should purposely use their religious label in their social engagement including BERSIH 4.0. I do agree that buddhists can participate as Malaysians in BERSIH 4.0. In principles, this should be so.

I did not participate in BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 3.0. This was the first time I participated in BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 4.0. By taking part, I apprehend and realise BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 4.0 do make a difference in practical aspect because of the values belief and practices of buddhists themselves. We do not yell, make vulgar remarks, personal attack. We were peaceful from our inner part. We sat stood and walked calmly making no noise. We even meditated and taught compasion from our reaction behavour and interaction with other participants. Our presence set example to the others as to civilised non-violent & non-provocative way of public disobedience. Our presence in BERSIH 4.0 do influence the others. This is equivalent to practical propagation of Buddha Dharma through actions!

From my observation through participation as a member, BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH is a discipline participating group of BERSIH 4.0 - a team observing sila, samadi and prajna.

There are two types of public disobedience. The first type is non-violent and non -provocative public disobedience as Mahatma Ghandi had carried out and set example in India. I believe and Mahatma Ghandhi had in fact acknowledged that he derived its spirit of non -violence and non-provocation from the teaching of Buddha.

Before going to street, briefing was given by Bro.Liau Kok Meng for BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 4.0: marching in silence; no provocative words and action; when arrested, no resistance nor retaliation and submit peacefully to arrest; and call BERSIH lawyers for bail / assistance. These are in fact observation of 5 precepts of lay Buddhists that are also the essence of non-violent and non-provocative public disobedience. We disobey the claim that BERSIH 4.0 is illegal and T-Shirt with BERSIH 4 is prohibited by Order 22 of 2015 issued pursuant to Printing Press & Publication Act effective 28-8-2015. Arrest with no resistance and retaliation aims to arouse sympathy and compassion of the general public to agree with BERSIH 4's demands. The core value of this type of public disobedience is compassion - the emphasis of the Buddha Dharma. It is the tactic of wisdom. Abide by the tactic is sila.

The other type of public disobedience is the method modified by the West of the Mahatma Ghandi’s method. Street protestors disobey the law with non-violent action or omission but put forth provocative words, slogan and writings etc (verbal violence indeed). The aim is to provoke the authority and police force to react with arrest, shooting of tear gas, water canon etc. The consequence is that anger of general public will be arouse so that corrective action by the Public be taken. The emotional basis of this method is anger. This is certainly not in accord with the teaching of the Buddha. The non-violent provocative method will have undesirable / adverse consequences especially those formulated culturally. For example, the stepping of the portrait of Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak & Tuan Hadi may not be accepted by the conservative Malays as they still respect leaders although involved in scandal or acted against their expectation. Negative sentiments sway the support for BERSIH 4 and consequently fail to attain its objective of getting public support towards demands of BERSIH 4.

The non-violent and non-provocative method is better than the non-violent provocative method of public disobedience especially in eastern culture at large and Malaysian culture specifically. Thus, the presence of BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 4 make a difference and set example to BERSIH (clear) away the provocative elements in BERSIH 4 through group practices of BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 4!

The ideal model of the organizer of BERSIH 4 is non-violent and non-provocative method of public disobedience but the opposition political groups prefer non -violent provocative method. The presence and group practice of BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 4 is therefore important to help the accomplishment of the non -violent and non-provocative method of public disobedience.

BERSIH 4 has set forth the following main objectives for their rallies:
• Free and Fair Elections
• A Transparent Government
• The Right to Demonstrate
• Strengthening the Parliamentary Democracy System
• Saving the Economy of Malaysia
• Resignation of Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak

Although BERSIH 4 has called for the resignation of Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, the main objectives are Democratic Reform and Institutional Reform. Without Democratic Reform and Institutional Reform, any political party forming the ruling government will continue to abuse the controlless unchecked and unbalanced powers of the ruling government like the present Barisan National government. Thus, BERSIH 4 aims not to overthrow the present Barisan National Government but to bargain or push for Democratic Reform and Institutional Reform. As such, the ideal model of the organizer of BERSIH 4 is non-violent and non-provocative method of public disobedience. The opposition political groups would hope for change of government which may be achieved through non -violent provocative method. The organizer of BERSIH 4 put a stop to it. The presence and group practice of BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH 4 is therefore important to help the accomplishment of the non-violent and non-provocative method of public disobedience which is the ideal model of BERSIH 4 for the reason analysed above.

I have been taught the working of dependent origination as a buddhist. The presentation of BERSIH 4 depends on the composition of its street protestors. The presence of BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH therefore makes a difference although we are a small group. We will make greater impact if we are a bigger group. I therefore call upon buddhists to join us as a group of BUDDHISTS FOR BERSIH in the next BERSIH to create greater impact and contribution towards better BERSIH!