Opposition Using Street Demonstration As Shortcut To Putrajaya, Says Muhyiddin
(Bernama) — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin regards the illegal demonstration initiated by the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) for July 9 in Kuala Lumpur as an attempt by the opposition to use it as a shortcut to Putrajaya.
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said the opposition was actually hiding behind the non-governmental organisation which disputed the country’s electoral system to realise its aim of toppling the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
He said the Election Commission (EC) had repeatedly explained that the elections in this country had been carried out in accordance with the existing regulations.
“Why now raise the general election issue? Why didn’t they raise it in the last elections?” Muhyiddin said to reporters after opening the Beaufort Umno division delegates’ meeting, here, Saturday.
“I think their intention is not good. Ambiga (Bersih chairman, lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan) is their so-called leader. But I know that behind her is the opposition as Mohamed Sabu (PAS deputy president) has been made (Bersih) deputy chairman.”
He said this when asked to comment on Bersih’s plan to hold the street demonstration.
Muhyididn said Bersih’s intention of holding the street demonstration was not just over the EC issue or the running of elections, but could also be a platform to raise other issues which might be of public interest to create anger among the people against the government.
“They may keep the momentum going so that when the general election comes, public hatred for the government will reach a high level that they will reject the government.”
Muhyiddin said street demonstrations were not the best solution for matters related to the country’s electoral system, but parliamentary democracy should instead be used to correct the situation.
“The relevant authority (police) did not issue a permit for the demonstration. We do not want our success, progress and prosperity achieved thus far to be jeopardised just because of two or three such groups,” he said.
In respect of this, Muhyiddin reminded the people nationwide not to fall for the tactics of the opposition, which he said, was using the general election issue as a shortcut to Putrajaya.
“When we (BN) won, they disputed our win. When they (opposition) won, it was alright to them,” he said.
On Umno Youth’s plan to hold a mass gathering on the same day to protest against Bersih’s action, Muhyiddin said it was a clear indication that many quarters disagreed with Bersih’s planned street demonstration.
