Stop all future rallies, MCA tells Najib

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai says today mass rallies will strain national unity and tarnish Malaysia’s international image. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 24, 2015.

Senior Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition party MCA wants Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to put a stop on all rallies in the future, calling such gatherings a threat to the nation’s harmony.

President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said mass rallies would eventually lead to violent confrontations as extremists from both ends would be spoiling for a fight by pushing one another to the edge.

This, he said, would strain national unity and tarnish Malaysia's name internationally.

“MCA is urging our prime minister to put a stop to all further rallies. Clearly, they are threatening to tear the fabric of our nation apart.

“MCA is adamant that all mass rallies must be stopped. The way forward is to return to the values of our founding fathers,” he read from a statement after chairing the party’s central committee meeting today.

Malaysia saw two rallies in the space of three weeks recently.

Electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 held a 34-hour rally on the eve of Merdeka Day in August aimed at institutional reforms and pressuring Najib to step down. The massive demonstration was held simultaneously in the capital Kuala Lumpur, and state capitals Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

In retaliation, Malay rights protesters wearing red shirts held the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu gathering on September 16. Its organisers claimed that the Bersih rally had insulted the integrity of the Malays.

The “red shirt” rally saw incendiary remarks and racially charged banners and placards as well as some tense moments when participants got upset over questions asked by some journalists.

Riot police also used water cannon on a group of rally goers who had attempted to breach the barricades to gain access to Petaling Street, a shopping strip dominated by Chinese traders.

Najib had justified the rally, saying it was a manifestation of the rise of Malays to defend their dignity and the country’s leadership from being condemned and humiliated.

Najib had also praised the rally participants for convening a peaceful gathering with no racism involved.

But MCA had singled out the 'red shirt' rally, which saw racial slurs being hurled at the Chinese community, and Liow said the party disagreed with statements that the gathering had been peaceful and its participants law abiding.

"There were clear incidences of violence as rally goers challenged the law enforcement authorities and uttered seditious statements that displayed clear disregard for the law and the authorities.

"It is obvious that the rally goers intended to stoke fear and create racial tension.

"Words such as 'Cina Babi' and 'Hapuskan SJKC' cannot be excused."

He said singling out the Chinese community and showing animosity towards the ethnic group was unacceptable and cannot be condoned.

"BN must take stock and put a stop to this unhealthy problem immediately."

- TMI