Utusan continues attack against Bersih rally
By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Utusan Malaysia continued to campaign against the Bersih 2.0 demonstration fixed for July 9, citing unrest and urging the government to prevent the demonstration from taking place.
“We understand there are efforts to inflame the people’s hatred against the leaders of the government through measures such as demonstrations like in Arab countries today. They want unrest to prevail and if any unwanted incident happens, they will blame the government. It is better if the government prevents it before it happens,” according to an editorial published today.
The Malay daily had also called on Malaysians not just to boycott next month’s Bersih rally, but also to gather against the movement that calls for free and fair elections, calling the gathering “dirty”.
The paper also told Malaysians “who love peace and reject hypocrisy” to gather on the streets of Kuala Lumpur on July 9 “with banners of the opposition leader’s scandals” in reference to sodomy and sex video allegations against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Organisers of the rally are aware of the chaos that could be triggered when there is a clash between supporters and opponents of the street demonstrations.
“Using the excuse that the demonstration is to fight for a clean and fair election… is not enough,” it said.
The editorial also said that other Malaysians should have the right to get on with their daily lives without being disrupted by the demonstrators.
“Taxi drivers, bus companies, businesses and workers around the capital city had said that they are uneasy about the demonstration.
“We disagree with the term ‘the people’s peaceful assembly’ used as the theme because there is not one illegal assembly organised by the NGOs and opposition parties that have been peaceful. So don’t use the people’s name to allow actions that can negatively affect them,” it said.
“The organisers have to remember that marching in big groups will not solve any problems, instead it will cause trouble and create unrest in the country.
