Weekend protests in Kuala Lumpur will have long-term impact
Posted by Subhan Choudhury on July 10, 2011
Kuala Lumpur is back to normal with people back thronging popular shopping spots, especially around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. But the police may have crushed a weekend protest, but the crackdown has tainted the country’s democratic credentials and could embolden the opposition ahead of elections.
A massive security lockdown on Saturday in the capital Kuala Lumpur crippled a plan by Bersih, a broad coalition of opposition parties and civil society groups, to muster 100,000 people for a rally demanding electoral reforms. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds in the biggest anti-government protests to hit the nation since 2007, when similar demands for reform also ended in chaos on the streets.
More than 1,600 people were arrested, including 16 children as well as prominent lawmakers, and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was hospitalised after being knocked down in the pandemonium. The stern police action is likely to backfire on the country’s image as one of South-east Asia’s more democratic countries.
Observers said the death of a 59-year-old taxi driver who collapsed while running away from tear gas could further stoke anti-government sentiment. Traders said they suffered losses Saturday, some as much as $1300 as they had to close their business premises earlier than usual.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International condemned the crackdown and the arrests and chided Malaysia for flouting international standards. More will follow.
The political fallout from rare scenes of mayhem in Kuala Lumpur is certain to complicate efforts by the Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ruling coalition to bolster its support ahead of general elections that many expect to be held within a year. Speaking at a government function on Sunday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak lashed at the opposition-backed protesters saying they were trying to paint a picture of Malaysia as a repressive state. Najib also accused opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of masterminding the rally and manipulating rally organisers to beef up support for his ambition to become the new prime minister.
Anwar was hospitalised with minor injuries after being knocked down in the chaos on Saturday. The Anwar’s opposition scored major gains in a general election in 2008, denying the ruling Barisan Nasional an outright two-thirds majority for the first time since 1969.
Fresh elections must be held by spring 2013 but Najib is expected to call for a vote in early 2012. There has been increasing demand by the opposition and non-government groups for changes to put a stop to vote buying and prevent irregularities which they say marred previous polls. They want indelible ink to be introduced to prevent multiple voting, equal access to the media for all parties and the cleaning-up of electoral rolls.
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