DPM warns of interference by 'major powers'

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has warned of possible interference by major powers should there be chaos in the country resulting from the rallies planned for July 9.

"When there is chaos, it invites interference from major powers... we don't want Malaysia, which we have been building since more than 50 years ago, to be facing such a problem," he said at the meet-the-people session at Taman Kaya in Taiping.

Muhyiddin said chaos would cause instability and destroy the economy and unity among the people.

He cautioned the people not to fall prey to actions said to be organised by non-governmental organisations but were actually backed by opposition parties intent on taking over the government so that their leader can become prime minister.

Muhyiddin stressed that the group's call for a clean and fair election was only an excuse. He said that the people had always been free to choose their government in the past 12 elections.

"In a parliamentary democracy like ours, the people choose the government and the government of the day is chosen by the people. We've held 12 general elections so far and each time, the people made their decisions," he said, adding that losing and winning were normal in an election.

'BN accepted election results'

In fact, he said, in 2008, the BN was defeated in Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Selangor, Perak and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

"BN accepted the results. It didn't question the outcome because we were confident that the people had made their choice in a clean election system," he said.

The opposition parties, however, claimed that the system was not enough and were resorting to street demonstrations to instigate the people, Muhyiddin said.

"The people should avoid these demonstrations and condemn in the strongest terms any attempt to disrupt unity," he added.

Muhyiddin described the July 9 assembly as an attempt to rally supporters of opposition parties whose leader was facing image problems due to various issues.

He called on the people not to take unity for granted.

"When we mention Malaysia, we know that it is peaceful, united, and free from any crisis... it all seems natural but this is not easy to achieve without the cooperation from the various races and through Barisan Nasional's politics of consensus where we work together to develop the country," he said.

Earlier Muhyiddin, accompanied by Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, visited Kampung Baru Pokok Asam and Taman Kaya market.

- Bernama