DAP rep admits govt's reformist image took hit from blocking rally
Published: Jan 25, 2025 10:49 PM
Summary
- DAP MP Syahredzan Johan admits that the government’s reformist image took a hit after blocking today’s anti-graft rally.
- The Bangi MP calls for the government to return to its reformist roots.
A DAP MP acknowledged that the government’s reformist image took a hit after its initial hard stance against today’s anti-graft rally.
In a statement on Facebook, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan called for the Pakatan Harapan-led government to shift from authoritarianism towards its reformist roots.
“There was no reason for the initial response from the police and authorities.
“They should have just agreed to facilitate from the start,” the DAP central executive committee member said.
By most estimates, about 200 people turned up for the protest in KL.
Most people did not even realise that it went on.
There was no threat. Political, or physical. There was no reason for the initial response from the police and authorities. They should have just agreed to facilitate from the start.
...See moreThe rally was first blocked by the government, with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil - both of whom had attended rallies when Harapan was the opposition - siding with the police.
The police had ordered the rally organisers, Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah, to obtain consent from the premises owners.
But at the last minute, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had no issue with the rally, adding that Saifuddin had given it the green light to proceed.
Right to assemble
Pointing to Anwar’s statement, Syahredzan said that the Harapan chairperson had to intervene in a rally that had relatively few participants after completing a world tour.
With most reports stating that the crowd consisted of a mere 200 people, there was no political or physical threat, he added.
Protesters outside the Sogo shopping mall for the anti-corruption rally in Kuala Lumpur this evening
“Of course, this is not about the size of the rally. It is about the right to peacefully assemble. But the point remains.
“This isn’t us. We shouldn’t pretend to be authoritarian when we know we are certainly not.
“High time that we bring the state apparatus in line with what we truly are - reformists,” he said.
The rally is a follow-up to the student-led New Year’s Eve rally in Sabah, which protested against state politicians implicated in an ongoing graft scandal.
This came after a Malaysiakini exposé on Sabah assemblypersons allegedly discussing bribes to obtain mining prospecting licences, which also implicated Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji and others linked to the scandal have denied any wrongdoing, claiming it to be a conspiracy to destabilise the state government ahead of the state polls.
“Of course, this is not about the size of the rally. It is about the right to peacefully assemble. But the point remains.
“This isn’t us. We shouldn’t pretend to be authoritarian when we know we are certainly not.
“High time that we bring the state apparatus in line with what we truly are - reformists,” he said.
The rally is a follow-up to the student-led New Year’s Eve rally in Sabah, which protested against state politicians implicated in an ongoing graft scandal.
This came after a Malaysiakini exposé on Sabah assemblypersons allegedly discussing bribes to obtain mining prospecting licences, which also implicated Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji and others linked to the scandal have denied any wrongdoing, claiming it to be a conspiracy to destabilise the state government ahead of the state polls.
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