The Turun Anwar mass protest rally of 26 July offers opportunities and lessons for Malaysia’s future.
News portals, enforcement agencies and observers may dispute the crowd numbers in Kuala Lumpur’s heart. However, the lessons extend far beyond attendance figures or whether the protesters were paid to attend.
The government must acknowledge that pressing issues and concerns require convincing solutions.
Malaysia cannot take the peaceful nature of these protest rallies for granted.
Ordinary people have repeatedly demonstrated their spirit of unity and peace. They have respected the boundaries of peaceful assembly.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
However, they could feel deeply betrayed if nothing good arises from these expressions of public frustration and hope.
Most importantly, politicians must shed their archaic thinking from past decades. They must realise the world around them has changed.
Crisis management needed
The aftermath of the ‘Turun Anwar’ rally demands several crisis management steps.
First, Anwar must deliver on his 2022 general election promises. Time is running short.
Where he cannot fulfil promises justifiably, he must communicate openly. This communication must be both open and emotionally effective. Oratorial skills alone will not secure his path to the next general election. Transparency and accountability are essential.
Opposition politicians, for their part, need to know they cannot keep exploiting public sentiment. They should realise that when people gather to protest on various issues, it does not necessarily mean support for certain opposition leaders or parties.
On the contrary, it’s the issues and concerns of the people that give these assemblies their momentum.
Time for renewal
The way forward requires a clean-up within government corridors. Both the current group of ‘unity government’ politicians and the opposition ranks need a renewal and cleansing.
Indeed, Malaysia desperately needs renewal. This calls for outstanding leadership.
All our politicians should go into retreat for some serious soul-searching. They should do this for the love of the nation.
Now is the time to learn precious lessons from yesterday’s rally instead of obsessing over attendance estimates.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
