Gormless Rais wants to survey (and pay?) paid prostesters @ Bersih rally

How much is that marcher in the window?

July 16, 2011

A Bersih supporter holds a miniature Malaysian flag in the direction of water cannons fired by police, in Kuala Lumpur, July 9, 2011. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Seeking to fathom why ordinary Malaysians thronged to the July 9 Bersih rally, the information ministry plans to survey some 2,000 respondents on their motivations for turning up for the march. Information Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim later revealed that the crux of the poll will centre on how much the respondents were paid to attend the rally for electoral reforms.
“For example, on July 9 so many of those who were involved did not know why they were in Kuala Lumpur... they said they were given a little bit of remuneration. When asked why they came, they said ‘there were many friends so we came along, we got some payment, so we took part,’” Bernama Online quoted the minister as saying.
The minister did not divulge who the respondents will be or how his ministry will determine if they had participated in the rally.
Despite the efforts to prevent the July 9 Bersih rally from taking place, tens of thousands converged on the capital city in a march for free and fair elections.
The protest, which the government had earlier declared illegal, turned chaotic close to midday when the police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protestors.
Authorities arrested nearly 200 people ahead of the rally for electoral reforms, and added almost 1,700 more to the tally on July 9 when Kuala Lumpur was put into virtual lockdown.