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Wednesday, September 02, 2015

400,000 missing

Mark Twain popularized the phrase "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" in the USA, but attributing those words to British PM Benjamin Disraeli though the verdict on the originator of that phrase is still out.


Anyway, Disraeli was reputed to have said: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

This brings us to the number of people participating in Bersih 4.0. The police said it was 50,000, while Bersih claimed it was 10 times that or 500,000 (half a million).

Obviously, even without checking who has been correct, we could possibly say the numbers shrink or expand in accordance with the attitude of the assessor towards Bersih 4.0, wakakaka.


So Politweet, an independent social media research firm decided to ascertain the numbers in as scientific a method as it could, so as to come up with a definitive figure.

Using aerial and satellite photos and videos, and comparing those with gridded maps showing the size of key areas, and the number of people humanly possible in such areas, etc, it came up with a figure for Bersih’s TOTAL attendance for the 2 days of attendance as between 79,919 to 108,125, say an average of 100,000.

Politweet’s determined figures are, as reported by the Malay Mail Online (extracts):

Bersih’s crowd peaked on August 29th (the 1st Day) between 45,892 — 62,089 people. Perhaps if only Day 1 was considered then the police estimates would be correct.


Politweet further broke down the Bersih 4.0 rally into four time periods, where the lowest estimate for the bulk of the protestors on the first day is at 45,892 people, first night at 9,837, second day at 14,782 and final night at 23,511.

Adding up the total minimum crowd sizes for all four periods led to an estimated 94,022 figure — between 79,919 and 108,125 when adjusted by allowing for a 15 per cent margin of error going both ways.

It offered an optional method of using the average peak figures for the first day (53,991) and second night (28,654) to calculate a total of 82,645, with the same margin of error adjustment pointing to 70,248 and 95,042 protesters.

Let’s be generous and say a TOTAL attendance of 100,000 over the 2 days.


I hope Maria Chin Abdullah won't be too disappointed with her missing 400,000.

But isn't the missing 400,000 somewhat of a coincidence of figures with the 40,000 missing Bangladeshi Anwar Ibrahim claimed to have participated in the general elections in 2013, also coincidentally 10 times more, wakakaka. On this, do read also my post Bangla in Pilihanraya over at KTemoc Komposes, wakakaka again.

Vin Scully, an American sportscaster, said: Statistics are used much like a drunk uses a lamppost: for support, not illumination.


5 comments:

  1. 2 days over 34 hours or more but more volume in the people traffic when the public transport was operating,,not really far fetched few hundred thousand attended or participated and counted . When considering the coming and going of participants was a continous stream..All public transportation mainly trains both directions in and out of the city centre on the 2 days were filled with yellow shirts..Practically thousands were moving in and out.in a continous stream..Sun morning,few thousand at the dataran but by late evning,hardly space to walk,same pattern that started on the 29th at the LRT,MRT KTM throughout the day..Thousands had chosen to go early and gone back and replenished by thousands choosing to go later.that are commuting..400,000-all congregating at same time at the spot-probably not -but factor in the coming and goings of participants over the 2 days..mind you mostly not repeat attendance-not the go back and come again- ! Mostly came few hours took part and went off,but imagine the numbers in attendance on both days was still so incredibly high.despite so many thousands came as a one off and went back to their own businesses..Plausible actually!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When anil netto who used to be part of aliran top management and is still with aliran's editoral says that according to his estimate based on his physical experience that it's 500K........It's 500K

      The same question still apply to Motherfucker, chao cibai kaytee

      1) What is the relationship between kaytee and najib that kaytee is willing to lick Najib's arsehole

      Delete
  2. Since there is no lost in putting the numbers 10x higher,why not?It is time Bersih register themselves as a political party.After all,these people just love to play politics and toppling PM's in the process.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Damned lies....sama-sama lah...just like the 10 versions from Najib and his supporters on the source of the RM 2.6 Billion in his personal bank account.....

    -Pak Arab for Najib's support of the fight against ISIS
    - Pak Arab as support for UMNO...only...UMNO did not get the money....
    - Pak Arab for.....(fill in the blanks)....

    What would Najib have said?

    Najib....
    •"I firmly stand against corruption. But RM2.6 billion donations are ok."
    •Its ok if my wife has RM2 million in her bank accounts. The IGP said he will not investigate. The IGP works for me.
    •It is not buying internal party suppport if I gave Shahrir RM1 million from my personal accounts. I am just a generous guy. Thats the way I am.
    •Its OK to fire the AG who was investigating me for corruption

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mana ada sama, our host tak bolih beza exaggerate n lies, lu pun sama ka?

      Delete