ECONOMIC factors, party leaders’ absence and political fatigue were several reasons Saturday’s “Save Malaysia” rally failed to attract more people, said analysts.

They told The Malaysian Insight the demonstration could have drawn a larger crowd if it was endorsed by party leaders.

They said the rally lacked an objective as organisers should have brought up more important issues such as rising living costs instead of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s court case.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said most people are tired of politics.

“People are tired, from 2018 we have witnessed many plots. We had the November election, then the six state elections followed by the Johor by-elections. Soon, there will be another by-election in Pahang before the Sarawak elections.

“The people’s concern now is the economy, cost of living and high prices. The rally yesterday was not significant. What was the objective?” said Mazlan.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said issues brought up by Perikatan Nasional (PN) members and civil society groups that supported the rally did not touch a chord with the majority.

He said organisers made the wrong choice with its slogan and thought that they could attract participants by playing up Zahid’s discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) in his corruption case.

“The rally did not draw people because people don’t see it as an important issue. If it was on the economy or the living costs, it would be catchier.

“The opposition thought it could trigger people to come out by playing up Zahid’s case but it failed. Zahid’s case is not a priority for them,” said Hismouddin.

The rally was to protest the attorney-general’s decision to drop 47 corruption charges against Zahid.

Most news reports pegged turnout at between 500 and 1,000 participants.

Last week, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the prosecution’s application to grant Zahid a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) on criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering charges related to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

The prosecution said it wanted to halt proceedings so a more in-depth investigation could be done.

On Saturday, calls for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to step down and shouts of “Reformati” (reform is dead) reverberated at the PN-organised rally in the capital.

The rally in front of the Sogo shopping complex lasted about an hour before the crowd dispersed.

Among those seen at the protest were Bersatu’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin and former Putrajaya Umno deputy chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

The group that gathered at Masjid Jamek in Kampung Baru marched to the Dang Wangi police station before heading towards Sogo on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

As the crowd marched, chants of “Tolak Zahid!”, “Dakwa Zahid!”, and “Reformati!” rang out.

Police on site kept close watch on the demonstrators.

Leaders’ absence

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said party leaders’ absence affected turnout at the rally.

“People from Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu may feel it would be best for them not to go due to economic factors. The economy is not good for people from Kelantan to show up in Kuala Lumpur for a day.

“Another thing is we didn’t see top party leaders at the rally. That was a mystery. Usually, party leaders would be present to get the attention from rally-goers. But I didn’t see anyone, including youth chiefs from PAS and Bersatu.

“It shows the rally was a weak one. Leaders will galvanise the youth to come out, as they define the discourse. You can’t expect ordinary people to come to your rally when leaders do not bother to show up. If any arrest was to be made, leaders must offer themselves first,” said the academic.

Iman Research programme director Badrul Hisham Ismail mirrored Fauzi’s view but said peaceful rallies should be encouraged in the country.

“Rallies or street demonstrations in Malaysia never drew large crowds unless party leaders (endorse) or attend these events.

“The first Bersih rally was huge because leaders partook, then the rest were big due to the cause for free elections, but we still saw party leaders behind each rally.

“We need to allow or encourage more peaceful rallies regardless of turnout. Whether we agree or disagree with the cause is another story, but we need to tell people there is nothing wrong with holding peaceful street demonstrations,” he said. – September 18, 2023.