Anti Government Rally Fails To Meet Its Objective

By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram and Nur Aimidiyana Zuher

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The gathering on new year's eve to demonstrate against the government due to the rise in the cost of living had failed to meet its objective.

According to several political analysts and religious figures, the organisers who represent the minority had certainly failed to convince the majority on their purported cause.

The majority of peace loving Malaysians did not allow themselves to he made use by those with selfish interest and decried on the crude tactics employed in fulfilling their cause.

A senior lecturer with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's (UKM) Al-Quran and Al-Sunnah Studies Department Dr Fadlan Mohd Othman added that their failure also went on to show that Muslims abhorred any form of gathering that could lead to anarchy.

RALLIES ARE ILLEGAL IF THEY THREATEN PEACE

"The menacing gathering was a cause of concern for many parties and Islam does not condone such gathering especially when it threatens the peace and the people's well-being," he said to Bernama when commenting on gathering on new year's eve.

Dr Fadlan who is also the chairman of the Malaysian Academician Society noted that as for Muslims, the al-Quran and Hadith (traditions of the Prophet) have to be the guide in managing with problems.

This would ensure they were not misguided in their cause.

Meanwhile, political analyst M. Neela Mehan pointed out the anti government rally failed to garner support because the people had enough with the series of futile demonstrations.

In making up their numbers, those who orchestrated the gathering had literally 'hijacked' the revelers at Dataran Merdeka who come every year to welcome the new year.

The protesters disrupted the new year itineraries and created a pandemonium. Police have so far identified four groups behind the rally.

MALAYSIANS ARE PEACE LOVING

"If one is to look into the political implication of the gathering on Barisan Nasional, obviously there is nothing. The fact remains, the majority of Malaysians appreciate the peaceful atmosphere promoted by the ruling government since independence," he said to Bernama.

He said rallies and demonstrations against the government were not going to work as Malaysians know what is good and bad for them.

The Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) lecturer believed that the opposition parties have had a hand on the rally though it is widely attributed to several ngos and the Kumpulan Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup (TURUN).

"I'm confident that the gathering is politically motivated...though holding a gathering is their right and is allowed under the laws, it should never threaten the country's security and peace," he said.

Neela Mehan believed that many of the revelers there accepted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak assurance that the government would minimise the impact from price hikes on the cost of living.

THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO SETTLE THE PROBLEM

Another of UKM's senior lecturer in Syariah Studies Department (UKM) Dr Mohd Izhar Ariff Mohd Kashim also concurred with Dr Fadlan that such gathering goes against Islam.

"It would have been better if the people reasoned out with the government to spend prudently instead of taking to the streets," he said.

Meanwhile, the director of criminology at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Social Science Studies Centre, Associate Professor Dr P. Sundramoorthy pointed out on the perils from such illegal gatherings, which could get out of hand and threaten the lives of innocent people.

"We have to understand, many were there to revel in the festivities around the city...those innocent also faced terrible risks," he said adding that thankfully nothing untoward happened that night.

TAKE A LEAF FROM OTHERS

A senior lecturer with Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia Dr Jessica Ong Hai Liaw opined that the rally mimicked the demonstration that has been ongoing in a neighbouring country to fulfill the selfish interest of some.

"We have to understand, that the same cannot be applied in Malaysia. That is not our tradition, maybe it had succeeded in another country but Malaysians are peace loving people," she said adding that what is happening in the neighbouring country should serve as a good lesson.

b>BETWEEN THE BIG OR LESSER EVIL

The Rector for Kolej Universiti Islam Perlis (KUIPs) Dr Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam noted that the Muslims had to evaluate their actions including participating in rallies to protest over price hike or topple the government.

"Muslims are given the choice to face lesser challenges, for example the rise in prices and in facing this they have they have to change their lifestyle. If the chose the greater challenges like rallying and demonstrating, they could lead to big loses and even death," he said.

Nonetheless, the illegal rally on the eve of 2014 brought negative image for the country and the country started the new year on a negative note.

"Is this rally the first one for 2014? Will there be an ending for these rallies?" he asked and he prayed that the people and the country would not have to go thorough such situation again.