Dr M outlines the perils of street demos

With his trademark sarcasm, the former premier says perhaps it will be better if governments were chosen through street demonstrations.

PETALING JAYA: Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has weighed in on the calls to hold street rallies to protest against the results of the 13th general election.

With his trademark sarcasm, he said that perhaps it would be better if governments were chosen through street demonstrations.

“It would probably be less fraudulent,” he wrote in his blog today.

Mahathir said that based on the Arab Spring, street demonstrations could bring down governments.

“This we know from the Arab Spring. But we should also know that setting up a new government to replace the old government is not as easy.

“There would always be people who would not agree with the new government, no matter if the government is democratically elected or not.

“The losers in the bid for power would always accuse the winners of cheating and frauds of all kinds. They would demand for new elections, or a re-count or whatever,” he added.

If their demand is not agreed, Mahathir said, they would take to the streets in continuous and even violent demonstrations, supplemented with strikes and sundry disorders.

“They know that if the demonstrations are big enough, the police cannot act against them. If the police try, they would resist and become violent. If the police react with violence than their foreign backers would accuse the police of brutality.

“In many instances the police had to withdraw or they may be directed to withdraw. They become disinclined to carry out their duties. Some people would take advantage of this by committing minor crimes. The people would feel insecure,” he added.

Mahathir said if on the other hand new elections are held and the former losers win, the new losers would accuse the winners of cheating, fraud etc.

“They would hold street demonstrations and strikes and do everything possible to bring down the government. And so it would go on.

“The net result would be continuous turmoil in the country. There would be no growth. Poverty would spread. The country may have to beg for aid or borrow. In the end it loses its independence.

“But of course this is a small price to pay for the right to bring down governments through democratic street demonstrations,” he added.

In the aftermath of the general election, Pakatan Rakyat has been holding rallies to highlight the alleged electoral frauds while the Anything But Umno (ABU) movement is planning to hold a protest this Saturday.