Three things we learned from: #Merah169
(MMO) – Thousands of Malays painted the city red yesterday, purportedly to show solidarity with Malay government leaders who are allegedly under siege from the ethnic Chinese community.
The event was originally planned as at least three separate rallies held by different organisers: martial arts group Pesaka who hosted the official gathering, a coalition of 250 Malay groups, and Felda settlers.
As the day went on, however, it was clear that there was only one event in town, the pro-Malay rally informally dubbed #Merah169, held as a reaction towards the electoral reform rally Bersih 4 that was attended by tens of thousands last month and deemed to be Chinese-driven.
Here are three things we learned about the event:
1. Umno not officially behind #Merah169, but Umno leaders were
Umno officially disassociated itself from the rally after its Supreme Council meeting last week, but stopped short of restricting its members from joining it.
The tacit nod has also been construed as endorsement for the event, especially with rare police approval for the street rally when none was available for Bersih 4.
Further links were drawn when the major players behind the rally — former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Ali Rustam as well as former ministers Datuk Noh Omar and Tan Sri Annuar Musa — all hail from Umno.
As did unofficial frontman Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, whose Coalition of Malay NGOs was behind the “Red Shirt” aspect and which triggered concerns of possible racial unrest over rally; he is the Sungai Besar Umno division chief.
It was also obvious that there was major funding for the event, with thousands of supporters bussed in from the across the country, plus the banners and placards as well as food and drinks supplied to the rally-goers.
Annuar also claimed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, were delighted by the turnout, although Najib later criticised a run-in between rally-goers and riot police.
No other political party was mentioned glowingly in the rally save for Umno, while organisers profusely thanked Umno divisions along the day.
While it may not be officially the organisers, Umno is inextricably linked to the rally and, more importantly, any bouquets and brickbats that will follow.
2. Racism by any other name…
Pesaka, the official rally organisers, sought to disavow the “Himpunan Maruah Melayu (Malay Dignity Rally)” name that Jamal’s group gave to the event, insisting that it was a show of Malaysian unity.
Red shirt protesters marching through Jalan Sultan Ismail heading to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― File pic
What transpired before and during #Merah169, however, left little doubt that it was catered specifically to Malays.
