KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — The poor turnout at last night’s “Save Malaysia, Destroy Kleptocracy” rally signals growing voter frustration towards the Opposition, MCA’s Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said today.
The party’s publicity spokesman said the protest was an anticlimax and likened it to the much anticipated English Premier League clash between archrivals Liverpool and Manchester United last night that ended with a goalless draw.
“The rally looked as dull as the Liverpool and Manchester United match on Saturday that promised action but delivered nothing,” the MCA leader said in a statement directed towards party rivals, the DAP.
“This sends a clear message to Lim Kit Siang and DAP that control most of Petaling Jaya, the people are fed up with the lies and promises of the Opposition, they are not braving the sun or rain to hear the same rhetoric again and again,” he added.
Media estimation of the turnout varied. Some reported the number reached 25,000 while others said less than 10,000. Police estimated only 5,000 had turned up for the eight-hour event that started at 4.30pm. Organisers initially targeted a 30,000 turnout, then cut it to 10,000.
The Pakatan Harapan-organised rally was meant to be the culmination of a two-month long campaign against alleged financial irregularities in the present administration.
Ti argued the poor turnout showed majority of voters did not believe in the allegations.
Pointing to information shared on social media, the MCA leader claimed even those who attended the protest appeared unmoved by the many anti-government speeches despite the rally being held in Petaling Jaya, a constituency held by an MP and assemblymen from the DAP.
“Despite PJ being controlled by DAP assemblymen, the crowd looked weak and unenthusiastic to say the least,” he said.
“This is a clear sign of change to come. People will reject the alliance of Lim Kit Siang and Tun Mahathir, and that was evident today.
“People have been fooled by Lim Kit Siang before, they were once asked to rally with PAS and they did, now they were asked to rally with Mahathir and Bersatu, but they rejected it. No more fooling the people”.
The MCA has often used the newly formed alliance between Lim Kit Siang and his once nemesis, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as cannon fodder against the DAP. Leaders from the Barisan Nasional senior component party claimed it exposed the DAP’s hypocrisy.
Dr Mahathir started his own party, PPBM, after he quit Umno and is now the chairman of the Opposition coalition.
Last night, the former prime minister’s speech was featured as the rally’s climax event.
