A protester holds a banner at the ‘red shirt’ rally in Petaling Street today. DAP is the bogeyman of the day as thousands of Malays in red shirts gather at Padang Merbok, ostensibly to showcase the strength and unity of the race. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, September 16, 2015.
DAP was the bogeyman of the day as thousands of Malays in red shirts gathered at Padang Merbok today, ostensibly to showcase the strength and unity of the race.
Although the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally was organised to counter Bersih 4, it was evident from the speeches on stage that the protesters believed DAP was the mastermind behind Bersih and any discord in Malaysia.
"I don't blame the Chinese. The ones guilty of destroying unity is DAP, which was born out of Singapore's PAP," Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said when he took the stage.
But while those addressing the enthusiastic crowd were careful not to paint the Chinese with a broad brush stroke, rally goers interviewed by The Malaysian Insider did not mince their words.
One of them was Rosnah Osman, 60, from Tanjung Malim who said it was important to ensure Malaysia did not fall to the hands of the Chinese, whom she labelled as "pendatang".
"We (Malays) need to be united," she said, her breathing laboured from having walked the long stretch from PWTC to Padang Merbok.
When asked what would happen if Malays were not united, her friend, who only wanted to be known as Kak Ita, interrupted with the words, "Malaysia is ours, why do we want to give it to Chinese?"
Rosnah, who was dressed in a red t-shirt and yellow scarf, said the Chinese couldn't speak a word of Malay when they first reached the country's shores.
"They cannot say we are all pendatang, we are all from Nusantara.
"People have different views but our view is don't say that we are pendatang," Rosnah said in high spirits.
But she added that she did not have any problem with the Chinese in general – only those from DAP.
Abdul Hadi Md Sharip, 55 from Umno Ampang told The Malaysian Insider the party division had sent between 2,000 and 2,500 people to the rally.
Boasting about their commitment towards the cause, he said they did not receive any payment, except for their transportation fares, breakfast and the standard red t-shirts.
But he was quick to add that they would have come even without such incentives.
"Our race has been insulted by others. I don't hate Chinese but I hate DAP Chinese, communists.
"They are targeting to topple Malay government," said Hadi.
Hadi said what riled him up about Bersih 4 was when participants stepped on pictures of Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
"During Bersih, they stepped on our leaders, Regardless whether they are Umno or PAS leaders they are still Malay leaders," he said, gripping his camera tightly with his gloved hands.
He said despite their different political ideologies, he felt insulted when other races touched on the Malays and Islam.
Another rally goer from the Single Mothers Association (Persatuan Ibu Tunggal), who only wished to be known as Farah, said the rally was necessary to put the Chinese "in their place".
The Malays had been too weak and allowed Bersih to gather four times in "Malay areas", said Farah.
But it was now time for the Malays to put their foot down and show the Chinese who this land belonged to, she said.
"We have to come here and shout so that the Chinese can wake up. This country used to be called Tanah Melayu – it's because of them it had to be changed to Malaysia," Farah said, her voice quiet but filled with conviction as she rested by a tree.
When asked if she was against all Chinese, Farah replied that DAP was "definitely evil".
"But there are Chinese who are nice," she added.
"We have to see which Chinese we can be friends with. Not DAP though."
But not all rally goers felt bitter towards the Chinese community; "Jamiah", a 48-year-old banana fritters seller said she had no problems with any of the other races.
"I'm only here to support the government and my race. I have no problem with the Chinese or the Indians – we are all one people," she said in her soft, melodic Sabahan accent.
"Anyone can be good or bad, regardless of their race."
Jamiah said she knew little about Bersih 4, as she didn't watch television, but revealed that she joined today's rally because her neighbours had invited her.
Hamiah Hashim, a 63-year-old Felda settler from Tanjong Malim, said she just wanted the entire country to be united.
"I have no problems with anyone. It's just that there was a rally to uphold Malays' dignity, and I'm a Malay, so I came," said Hamiah.
- TMI
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