Jamal plans to hold 5,000-strong anti-Mahathir rally

In a direct response to last week’s Citizen’s Declaration signed by old enemies and allies led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a group of NGOs are now purportedly planning to hold a rally in protest against that declaration.

According to Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos, who was also behind the racially-tinged red-shirt rally on Sept 16 last year, the rally is expected to be about 5,000-strong.

“About 5,000 people or more than 400 NGOs will be involved in sending a memorandum right to the hands of Mahathir himself. We will also be holding a rally,” Jamal told Malaysiakini today.

He said this will likely take place next week, or failing that, on a future date to be announced, along with the location and activities planned during the rally.

“We strongly condemn what Mahathir is doing. It is creating an uneasy situation in our country.

“The NGOs are sick of such polemics that have crossed the line,” he explained.

The people in Malaysia live in harmony and are united but it is not impossible for us to “fight until we cause a civil war”, if certain leaders are greedy and have unreasonable hatred for other leaders, he said, without naming anyone.

Echoing many Umno ministers, Jamal also pointed out that Malaysia practises democracy and thus, if anyone wants to change the government, they should do so through a general election.

“The next general election will happpen in not even two years. If he (Mahathir) thinks he wants to join politics again, maybe he can contest again in any constituency, because Malaysia practices democracy,” he said.

Besides, he added, instead of trying to remove Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak from power, the opposition and “smart people like Mahathir” should be helping the government figure out ways to lighten the rakyat’s burden in such trying global economic times.

“Even if Najib is removed, will global oil prices go up immediately?” he asked sarcastically.

“Concentrate on helping the rakyat, not bashing Najib’s administration,” he advised.

Last year, Jamal had led the red-shirt rally on Sept 16 for Malay pride and in protest at the Bersih 4 rally.

Meanwhile, last Friday, Mahathir, various leaders from both sides of the partisans and NGO leaders had signed a Citizen's Declaration in protest at Najib’s leadership and demanding institutional reforms. -Mkini