You’re not really fighting for Malays so no need to rally, Dr M tells ‘red shirts’
(Malay Mail Online) – The “red shirt” rally tomorrow is unnecessary as its true objective is not to fight for the Malays, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
The former prime minister from Umno also repeated his stance that the controversial demonstration, whose organisers have said was aimed at countering the Bersih 4 rally, was unnecessary, stressing that the protest by electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 last month was not racist.
“To paint the Bersih rally as racist in order to show that they’re supposedly fighting for the Malays – they’re not fighting [for the Malays]. No need lah,” Dr Mahathir told reporters after speaking at the 4th Mahathir Global Peace School initiative by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation here today.
Dr Mahathir had made an appearance at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur during the Merdeka weekend, which saw tens of thousands flood the streets during the overnight demonstration for institutional reforms.
The authorities have allowed the “red shirt” rally on Malaysia Day tomorrow to be held at Padang Merbok in the capital city.
There has been mixed messaging over the rally, with the Coalition of Malay NGOs selling red T-shirts promoting the demonstration with slogans in Bahasa Malaysia like “Malay Dignity Uprising” and calling it “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” [Malay Dignity Rally].
Rally organiser Pesaka, however, has insisted that the event is called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” [United People’s Rally] and that it is open to all Malaysians. The silat group has also said that there there was no “red shirt” dress code.
Ruling party Umno has said it is not formally endorsing the rally but will not stop its members from participating.
Rumours circulated online last week claimed that the Malay nationalist party is looking to mobilise 180,000 members for the mass gathering.
However, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor refuted this yesterday.
