Sarawak PKR Youth has condemned Perikatan Nasional Youth's move to hold its Save Malaysia rally on Malaysia Day yesterday.
Its chief Chiew Choon Man said the rally in Kuala Lumpur was intended to undermine Malaysia Day celebrations as a symbol of harmony and unity.
"Sarawak PKR Youth respects that the right to assemble is enshrined for all Malaysians under Article 10(1)(b). The Malaysia Day celebrations should not be tainted by a protest intended to shame and defame the country's leader," said the Miri MP in a statement today.
Chiew echoed Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who previously said that rally organisers were being "disrespectful" of Malaysia Day.
Although the organisers branded the gathering as a Malaysia Day celebration, its primary focus was to protest granting a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"Malaysia Day has a high dignity in history and symbolises Malaysian solidarity, regardless of race, religion or political ties.
"We should celebrate the country's successes and developments since the formation of Malaysia," Chiew added.
Some 1,000 PN supporters marched from Kampung Baru mosque to gather for about an hour in front of the Sogo shopping complex. It saw 16 speakers reiterate the rally's demands against Zahid and the alleged failures of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration.
As the rally in Sogo was taking place, over in Dataran Merdeka, a reported crowd of some 10,000 people spent the day dressed in their best ethnic outfits for the annual "Keretapi Sarong" event, celebrating the best of the nation's culture.
Commenting further, Chiew said holding the rally on Malaysia Day will sow division instead of unity and Sarawak PKR Youth urged PN Youth to explore alternative platforms including holding dialogues on their grievances.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Allaudeen Abdul Majid said all related actions were taken according to the law and no untoward incidents were reported. - Mkini
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