No jail can accommodate all the protestors, says Mahathir
Published on: Sunday, November 20, 2016
Kuala Lumpur: Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad praised those who participated in the Bersih 5 rally Saturday, for their courageous display."We are not afraid as we know we are not in the wrong," he said before a crowd of about 18,000 gathered outside the Kuala Lumpur City Centre shopping complex. Dr Mahathir, 91, also urged people to be brave, despite the risk of being imprisoned.
ADVERTISEMENT
Police have detained 15 activists and politicians, including Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah and Red Shirts leader Jamal Md Yunus.Dr Mahathir told the crowd: "There is no jail that will be able to imprison all of us here today", and then trained his guns on the Red Shirts movement, which he said were out to create chaos.The arrest and subsequent remand of its leader Jamal, he said, was nothing more than drama."They are trying to intimidate us, but you are strong people," he said, adding that in all his 70 years in his political life, he had not seen a crowd as big as the one he witnessed yesterday. Mahathir was Prime Minister for 22 years from 1981-2003.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said those who did not support the opposition were regarded as backing Najib Razak's government."Maybe there are those here who still do not support any opposition party. So I implore you to join one today.
ADVERTISEMENT
Join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia who will collaborate with all opposition parties to bring down Najib."Mahathir is Chairman of the party, formed this year after he left Umno.Dr Mahathir was disappointed that police refused to allow Bersih 5 supporters gathered in Bangsar to march to Dataran Merdeka.He made an appearance at Dataran Maybank in Bangsar around 2.20pm, but was greeted by a virtually empty street as most demonstrators had dispersed by then. The demonstrators had left the area and were trying to make their way to Dataran Merdeka via various routes."Police are just doing their job, but the protesters have come peacefully. There should not have been a blockade," he said.Dr Mahathir was accompanied by Pribumi president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz, who is also the party's deputy president.Also joining him were other Pribumi leaders and a group of black shirts on motorbikes, whose affiliation could not be confirmed.He labelled Jamal Yunos a "crybaby" over the punching incident at a mall here last weekend.He said all those present should feel proud that they were not like Jamal."We want peace, we are not Jamal. He gets punched in the nose once and starts crying," he told the crowds, who cheered loudly in approval.He also poked fun at the Red Shirts leader for his group's gimmicks that purportedly showcase their bravery."He claims to be brave. Brave enough to be arrested (by police). But once he is arrested, he would beg," Dr Mahathir said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
