Rallies must be peaceful, multiracial, opposition MPs remind ‘red shirts’

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — All public protests, including the controversial “red shirts” rally planned for this September 16, must be held peacefully and in accordance with the law, two federal opposition lawmakers said today.

DAP MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw said such gatherings can be permitted but cautioned against violations, adding that Malaysians would not accept violence.

PAS lawmaker Datuk Mahfuz Omar said rallies should be multi racial in nature, citing the recent Bersih 4 gathering as an example.

“If anybody or a group are unhappy with a policy, let them express it peacefully and make sure there is rule of law,” Dr Tan, who is also Kepong MP, told reporters at the sidelines of the 36^th General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly here.

He added that rallies are an opportunity for Malaysians to let off steam over any dissatisfaction that they may have, saying: “If we don’t allow, it is difficult too, it is buried inside and will blow up.”

Dr Tan said that the principle of holding peaceful rallies within the law should apply to all, including the red-shirt group and the yellow-shirt protesters backing polls reform group Bersih 2.0’s demands.

“What we worry is irresponsible people will use the opportunity to create chaos,” said Dr Tan, who is also Parliament’s bipartisan Public Accounts Committee deputy chief.

Mahfuz, on the other hand, pointed out that the Bersih 4 rally last month was a gathering for Malaysians, contrasting it with the Malay-based September 16 rally.

“But this gathering is based on one race, I don’t oppose their rights, that depends on the security forces.

“But it is very dangerous if we encourage mono-ethnic gatherings that will push the thoughts of Malaysians into racial disunity,” he told reporters here.

When asked if the planned rally by the red-shirt group was racist in nature, the Pokok Sena MP said Malaysians should look out for national interests, but added that they can also look out for the interests of their own ethnic groups.

“It’s not wrong but don’t carry an atmosphere that can cause racial tensions,” he added.

A call for people to participate in a demonstration called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” and “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” at Bukit Bintang on September 16 went viral on social media with the organisers remaining unknown, though a separate anti-Bersih group later confirmed its legitimacy and their own participation in the rally.

The call for participation has also turned out to be racially-tinged, with groups urging the Malay community to show their dissatisfaction towards the recent Bersih 4 rally, which was said to be Chinese-dominated.

Participants of the September 16 rally have been urged to wear red as a symbol of their opposition to the yellow theme of Bersih.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim yesterday said that the police would not be allowing the “red shirts” rally to take place due to security reasons.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri today said she hoped those participating in the Malay-dominated rally consider the implications of their actions, cautioning against the incitement of hatred which she said would be unhealthy for the country.