Think of the implications of your actions, law minister tells anti-Bersih protesters

(Malay Mail Online) – Ahead of the anti-Bersih rally on September 16, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri today urged Malaysians not to incite hatred, saying it would be unhealthy for the country.

The de facto law minister said she hoped those participating in the Malay-dominated rally consider the implications of their actions, although she stressed that she was not siding with those who demonstrated during last month’s Bersih 4 gathering.

“By inciting each other it doesn’t help our country to develop. We must bear in mind that we need each other, regardless of our race or religion, we need each other to grow.

“We need each other for the economy to grow, we need each other for the country to develop,” she told reporters after officiating a seminar on the National Human Rights Action Plan here at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations.

“I would be sad if anything happens because of any racial or religious issues. I would be very sad because it would not be a healthy environment for our children to grow in,” she added.

A call for people to participate in a demonstration called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” and “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” at Bukit Bintang on September 16 went viral on social media with the organisers remaining unknown, though a separate anti-Bersih group later confirmed its legitimacy and their own participation in the rally.

The call for participation has also turned out to be racially-tinged, with groups urging the Malay community to show their dissatisfaction towards the recent Bersih 4 demonstration, which was said to be Chinese-dominated.

“I hope whoever participates in the rally… will think of the implications of their actions. Think wisely. I am not saying I am condoning those in yellow shirts, neither am I saying the red shirts are right or wrong,” Nancy added.

Participants of the September 16 rally have been urged to wear red as a symbol of their opposition to the yellow theme of Bersih.

The gathering is also being held to voice anger towards the incident where protesters at Bersih 4 were stomping on pictures of Umno president Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim yesterday said that the police would not be allowing the “red shirts” rally to take place due to security reasons.