Najib tells Bersih: Only those with no 'guts' will hold demonstartions

The July 9 rally organisers will be held responsible if the rally causes chaos in the country, warned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sunday.

Najib said the rally was not about wanting to send a memorandum to the King or about flaws in election rules and regulations but was opposition wanting to wrest back the political momentum that Barisan Nasional had managed to regain.

"Do not create chaos just because you want power. If there is chaos (because of the rally) then you (organisers) will be held responsible," he said at the opening of People's Progressive Party's 58th Annnual General Assembly.

On the same day, two other groups are also planning to hold rallies but these are against the stance taken by the Bersih organisers.

Umno Youth plans to march to hand over a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong calling for the democratic system in the country to be preserved, while Perkasa is leading several other non-governmental organisations in a march under the Gerak Aman banner.

At Barisan, we do not manipulate

The Prime Minister said it was irresponsible of certain quarters to create chaos just to gain power, adding that claims of irregularities in the election rules and electoral roll did not make sense when the opposition was currently ruling Kelantan, Penang, Kedah and Selangor.

“Barisan does not manipulate the election. If we do, why should we want to lose four states to the opposition.

“We do not want to win elections based on manipulation. We want to win because the rakyat supports and trusts us,” he said.

Najib challenged the opposition to fight Barisan in a general election instead of holding street demonstrations which would only cause problems.

“If you have guts, then fight us during the election and not this way (by holding demonstrations). Only those with no guts will hold demonstrations,' he said.

Speaking on the same issue in his speech, PPP president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas criticised the Bersih 2.0 organisers, saying that street demonstrations were not part of Malaysian culture and would only cause instability.

“Why must the rally organisers drag the innocent public into their cause. Do they really consider the people's safety and peace when they plan a demonstration?

“I urge the people not to take part in the demonstration. Your right to make a choice is already in place, which is during the general election,” he said.

- Star