BORNEO ISLAND: HOME OF ORANG UTAN AND HORNBILL: No more rallies, says DPM Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Zahid says government will not tolerate any more demonstrations in the streets, racial provocations

Ahmad Zahid, with Manyin on his right and Riot on his left, being greeted by the local community leaders upon his arrival at Kampung Terbat Leban.

SERIAN: Plans by some parties to hold rallies at Petaling Street and Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur must be stopped because it is not the way to solve problems in the country, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He stressed that the government did not want any more demonstrations, which would only lead to Malaysia having a bad image.

He also said there should not be any room for racial conflicts here, as well as demonstrations with the objective of toppling the democratically-elected government.

“Someone tried to run another rally in Petaling Street and Bukit Bintang. Enough is enough! The Sept 16 rally was enough. Let there be no ‘Red Shirt’, ‘Yellow Shirt’, ‘Green Shirt’ (or) ‘Blue Shirt’. Enough!

“The culture in Malaysia does not include street protests. We can accept differences in opinions as we have a platform for a discourse on it, but not through demonstrations,” he said before a 3,000-strong crowd during a ‘Leaders Meet People’ session at Kampung Terbat Leban here yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid also stated that even with him being the Home Affairs Minister, he did not want to meddle in affairs of the police, despite it being an agency under his ministry.

“I leave the operational matters to them (police) as I believe they know what to do. Do not think that if that person is my friend or of the same party as mine, I have to defend him. I am not like that. Law is supreme.

“It’s not that I do not want to defend a relative or friend, but we must respect the law to ensure peace in the country. What’s the point of having the best facilities and infrastructure comparable to developed countries if we are often inflicted by differences in opinions as well as demonstrations that are giving us the bad image, as portrayed on the media.

“Yes, assemblies are allowed by the law but it is not the best answer to solve problems.”

On another matter, Zahid revealed that he and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun had been instructed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to expedite the issuance of MyKad and birth certificates to eligible, yet stateless Sarawakians.

He said there had been many instances where the stateless Sarawakian students were denied the opportunity to further their education, despite having scored good marks in school.

“Those without MyKad and birth certificates but are deemed eligible must be helped as soon as possible. I have chaired two meetings, while Joseph Entulu would be on the frontline together with the NRD (National Registration Department) to help these Sarawakians who are without identification documents.

“Those who are eligible, we will assist them immediately. This is the commitment of the federal and state governments.

“I have instructed NRD mobile teams to go to these areas. Whoever in need of MyKad replacements, get them replaced immediately free of charge. Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives must provide the support,” he said.

The programme yesterday was also attended by Human Resources Minister and Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot, state Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister and Tebedu assemblyman Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben and community leaders from this predominantly Bidayuh division.

Ahmad Zahid also assured the people here that the Bidayuhs would always receive attention from the government, telling them of his admiration for the community who had always been progressive when it came to education.

He revealed that during his Universiti Malaya days in the 1970s, he had several Bidayuh friends including Manyin.

Ahmad Zahid also brought good news to Terbat Leban folk through an announcement of an allocation worth RM300,000 for building the village hall, following a request by Riot whom he described as a ‘bro’ and a ‘friend’.

Meanwhile, Riot in his speech said the Serian folk should be honoured by Ahmad Zahid’s visit as he came down here less than two months after being appointed as deputy premier.

He also pointed out that Najib himself had visited the now-division three times in six years since becoming prime minister – his caring gesture for the people here.

“There was a former PM who never visited Serian throughout his 22 years in office. Nevertheless, I believe Serian would ‘balas budi’ (reciprocate the good gesture by) BN in the next state election.

“We must also appreciate our Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) who also cares for Serian,” Riot said.