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Malaysian clerics label protesters extremists
Straits Times - July 2, 2011
Their warnings emerged just as hundreds of activists held protests Friday against the rally, which is pushing for electoral reform and is scheduled to be held next Saturday.
A sermon, titled "Preserving the blessing of peace," was read in 150 mosques near Kuala Lumpur, including in the administrative capital of Putrajaya.
Stressing that peace was demanded by all religions, it accused the rally organizers of wanting to disturb public security and peace. The rally is being planned by Bersih ("clean" in Malay), a loose coalition of 62 non-governmental groups campaigning for free and fair elections.
"We fear that this movement is being led by extremists," a senior cleric with the government's religious affairs department, Che Mat Che Ali, told reporters. "In essence, this group fights for individuals or specific interests without a care for the sensitivities of the masses or public interest."
In Kuala Lumpur and Alor Setar, anti-rally protesters made the same point, calling for police to take stern action while marching to a police station to file a report against the rally.
UMNO Youth and the Malay supremacy group Perkasa have also announced plans to hold opposing marches of their own.
The sermons and protests came amid rising support for the Bersih rally, with organizers vowing to go ahead despite it being declared illegal by the authorities.
Daily arrests by the police of Bersih supporters have only served to strengthen support.
Friday's sermons were dismissed by, among others, a multi-religious council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, and opposition politicians.
"It is precisely because we want peace and harmony that we want to march to demand free and fair elections," Khalid Samad, a senior member of the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia, told The Straits Times. "People are going to be more unhappy with dirty politics and elections in this country and that will lead to more conflict." Police Friday gave their strongest warning yet, telling organizers to abort their plans or face arrest, and also threatening clampdowns using the Internal Security Act.
On Thursday, Bersih chief Ambiga Sreenevasan tried to work out a compromise, saying the group would march along a route of the police's choosing, but deputy police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said there will be no more negotiating.
"We have given them explanations and warnings and reminders, but they do not heed," he said Friday. "We will make sure the rallies do not take place. We will not discuss any more. Be ready to face the laws of this country." He added that police would detain anyone wearing any clothing promoting the rally, whether it was in yellow – Bersih's color – or otherwise. He said that 115 people have been arrested so far in connection with the rally, and 2,136 reports filed against it.
Prime Minister Najib Razak also weighed in, saying that the ruling party could mobilize three million members to oppose the rally if it wanted to, but that it was not a responsible way to resolve the issue. He was quoted by Malaysiakini.com as saying: "We can assemble three million people, but is that a responsible way of doing things?"
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