This has been nothing but a charade from the very beginning. And just as I predicted, the police, DBKL and UMNO have all endorsed the rally on Malaysia Day.
I firmly believe in the freedom of assembly, expression and opinion. But I don’t condone a congregation of people who are hell bent on creating racial tension in the country.
The red shirt guys are planning on doing just that.
Malaysia Day is one of the occasions in which we celebrate racial unity in diversity.
The red shirt protestors have, however, turned it into a day of fear and terror.
The Chinese traders have expressed concerns as the rally has been styled to reflect displeasure at the Chinese, dubbed the DAP Chinese, who were allegedly arrogant enough to flood the streets during the Bersih demonstrations.
The red shirt wallahs claim the September 16 street protest is to re-claim the dignity of the Malays, which were somehow lost because of the predominantly Chinese turnout during Bersih and the calls for clean and fair elections, good governance, parliamentary democracy and the right to dissent.
UMNO Sec-Gen and Federal Territories Minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, now claims the rally organized by the martial arts group Pesaka is not to protect the dignity of the Malays but a show of support from all Malaysians for the government.
In the recently concluded UMNO Supreme Council meeting, the party said it did not condone the rally but will not stop its members from joining.
Then it was revealed that UMNO members were encouraged to attend the controversial rally through an official letter from the party.
Let’s do a reality check on the impact of the planned rally: the Chinese are terrified it will create another racial riot such as May 13, where scores of people were killed and hundreds wounded during a clash between the Malays and Chinese. Chinese traders in Petaling Street have taken a day off, fearing a riot. The Chinese are afraid to circulate text messages about the possible consequences of the rally. And they are stocking up on essential supplies, just in case.
In sharp contrast, no one was sending covert messages to pile up on food supplies when the Bersih rally was called for.
And despite persistent efforts by some naughty people to twist it into a racial issue because of the largely Chinese crowd, it did not work.
We hear claims of racial unity in Malaysia by ruling politicians. But when we look deeper the reality is starkly different, because of racial undertones and sentiments fueled by the same folks.
And we have seen this happen throughout the country’s history, when UMNO is dangerously close to losing power.
It’s an open secret that not just Prime Minister Najib Razak but UMNO and Barisan Nasional have lost the moral legitimacy to rule the country.
But this is a dangerous game. And one that has been used time and again by UMNO, which is now sharpening its claws to strike, by creating fear among the masses.
This comes at a time when foreign investors are fleeing the country, when the economy is on the doldrums and the ringgit is weakening.
Malaysians are not just suffering because of the haze that has blanketed the skyline.
We are also in a limbo because the minds of most ruling politicians are clouded by the greed to hold on to power, by whatever means possible.