Is the mafia ruling our country, asks Mat Sabu

Is the country being ruled by the mafia, with several murder cases, such as the brutal murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu on record, asked Parti Amanah Negara chief Mohamad Sabu.

"We do not want our country to be ruled in such manner where outspoken (leaders) are suspended, the (former) attorney-general terminated from his job, a deputy public prosecutor found dead in an oil drum, and a Customs officer shot dead.

"Do you feel scared living in Malaysia?" he asked the crowd who attended the "Save Malaysia Consensus" rally held in Pandan Indah, Ampang, last night.

"The person who initially set up 1MDB in Terengganu was shot in front of the house," Mohamad, who is widely known as Mat Sabu, pointed out without elaborating.

"Did you ask if Malaysia is ruled by mafia?" he asked. "Did you ask why Altantuya's remains were blown to pieces? TV3 did not tell.

"Altantuya was so beautiful, yet she was murdered. Why? If you don't want (her), please send her over here, but do not send her to me," Mat Sabu said to the laughing crowd.

Earlier, he said he was shocked by the way foreign media reported how Altantuya was murdered.

Mat Sabu said the opposition leaders were banned from entering Sarawak as the state government was afraid the Iban may fall to their spell.

He too refused entry into Sarawak, with no reason given.

Citing the controversial issues surrounding Mara and Lembaga Tabung Haji, Mat Sabu said these were the cases of Malay leaders cheating their own community.

"Those who cheated are Malays - Najib (Abdul Razak), Jamil (Khir Baharom) and (Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi," he said.

'Narrow thinking to blame the Chinese'

He also blamed the narrow thinking of some people who accused the Chinese of having plans to rule the country.

"The Chinese only consist of 23 percent of the population. They are being lazy about getting married, moreover on giving birth.

"Where is (DAP Seputeh parliamentarian) Teresa Kok, (DAP Seremban parliamentarian) Anthony Loke and (PKR Batu parliamentarian) Tian Chua. They are all single," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Despite outnumbering the Chinese with a higher birth rate, he said, the Malays still believed in the spreading lies that the Chinese wanted to rule the country.

Earlier, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah (photo) emphasised to the crowd on the need to reform the national institutions of the country, instead of merely ousting Najib.

The widespread of power abuse and corruption not did not take place just because of Najib, Maria said.

"The Attorney-General's Chambers, Election Commission (EC) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission have failed. The federal cabinet and Parliament have failed, and so has the Umno supreme council," she said.

"They all failed because the culture of apple-polishing those in power prevails, " she said.

If the system is not transformed, Maria said, the people would have to gather again, perhaps in five years’ time, to call for the prime minister to step down.

"We must change the rules of the game so abuse of power and impunity will not recur. What Najib had done to this country is criminal," she added.

'We should put Najib behind bars'

Wanita PKR committee member Faezah Ariffin told the crowd that she wanted to see Najib sent to jail, with his hand amputated.

"Can we bring him to justice? Can we bring the prime minister of Malaysia to justice… we amputate his hand, can we?" Faezah asked, and the crowd shouted "can!"

And she shouted back: "We cannot allow Najib to flee the country and we should put him behind bars."

Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim urged the people rise and oust Najib from office.

"If we want to change, we need to be brave," Zaid said.

Also present were former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, former Umno division leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan and sacked member Anina Saadudin, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, acting chairmperson Tan Kok Wai, Amanah election director Hatta Ramli, Amanah Youth deputy chief Faiz Fadzil, Sabah PKR chief Lajim Ukim and PKR strategy director Sim Tze Tzin.

Representatives from civil society included Bersih committee member Toh Kim Woon. -Mkini