Kota Kinabalu: Sabah should not adopt the culture of street demonstrations as it is not part of the State's political tradition, Bangkit Sabahan 2.0 adviser Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar said.
He said Sabahans have their own way of managing political differences and do not need outsiders to dictate how politics should be conducted, adding that the State's more harmonious political culture should be preserved.
Zulkarnain said incidents such as the burning of posters and acts of provocation during the Matunggong issue showed that such practices were incompatible with Sabah's political environment, while supporting action to bar outsiders found attempting to provoke or belittle the State.
He said the Bangkit Sabahan 2.0 gathering on Saturday was not intended to demonstrate strength but to convey the message that Sabahans reject street demonstrations as a means of pressing demands, claiming it drew about 600 participants compared with around 20 at another group's assembly.
Zulkarnain also questioned the purpose of holding demonstrations to pressure the authorities, urging respect for the legal process through the courts and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), while saying the gathering reflected disappointment over incidents such as the burning of posters during previous demonstrations.
