The “Turun Anwar” rally last Saturday was not significantly different from a series of similar rallies recently held by PAS under Perikatan Nasional. The same group of “old politicians” was dominant and loudly criticising Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim through microphones, but offering little in terms of fresh content or strategy. Although the participation of social media influencers and university students added some new faces, the overall episode remained repetitive, failing to inject new momentum or issues into the opposition’s camp. From the perspective of Perikatan Nasional (PN), what they seek is not new arguments but the ability to create a shock effect through sheer numbers. Even if the rhetoric is recycled, as long as crowds gather in large numbers, the spectacle alone can serve their political objectives—exerting pressure, stirring emotions, and creating the public perception that Anwar’s government is on shaky ground. For them, form matters more than content, and headcount outweighs arguments. Before and after the rally, PAS exaggerated the turnout. In reality, the crowd numbered in the tens of thousands, yet they confidently claimed an attendance of 500,000 without blinking. For PN, this is not only about projecting strength externally but also a morale-boosting call to its supporters internally. They aim to build a collective illusion that “a wave is rising,” thus paving the way for further mobilisation and support. After the rally, Anwar posted on social media to present himself as a democratic leader who respects the freedoms of assembly and expression. He appeared calm and magnanimous, showcasing a sense of democratic maturity. Of course, Anwar knew that cracking down on the rally would backfire. Unlike in Najib’s era, when riot police and tear gas were used to disperse crowds, such scenes were absent this time—and that deserves some credit. However, from another perspective, PN may spin this as Anwar being “caught off guard by unexpectedly large numbers” and forced to back down. They could further claim the rally proved that public pressure is effective, amplifying its political impact. Protesting on the streets is familiar territory for Pakatan Harapan (PH) politicians. Many PN leaders today were once part of those same street protests. They are simply recycling the protest playbook they learned during their time in PH and using it against PH now. Of course, rallies like these can’t overthrow the government or force Anwar to resign—after all, he holds a relatively stable majority in Parliament. PH knows from past experience that rallies are never a one-stop solution. Even PN, despite its tough rhetoric, understands this reality. That’s why PN leaders have not responded to Anwar’s challenge to table a vote of no confidence—because they simply don’t have the numbers. A second “Sheraton Move” also carries risks. The Malay rulers pose the biggest obstacle, and most citizens do not want to see further political instability. Moreover, although PN leaders often claim someone more capable than Anwar should lead the country, they can’t seem to say who that person is. That said, if PH becomes complacent […]
4月前
Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders turned out in full force at the 726 Turun Anwar rally (Step down Anwar), held at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. The heavyweights – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang were present at the rally. However, the public focused on one key question: how many people actually attended the rally? PN, the organizers, claimed that 500,000 people showed up while the mouthpiece of PAS, Harakah reported 300,000 crowd. According to media estimates, the crowd was close to 30,000 and some only estimated 15,000. The special branch of the police estimated the turnout to be between 10,000 and 15,000. This fell short of the target touted by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who had claimed that growing public discontent could attract as many as one million participants. PAS alone has over one million members, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia about 700,000—yet only tens of thousands showed up, which can be seen as a failure. Moreover, the determination of some participants was weak. They left gradually due to the heavy downpour. The majority of participants were Malay, with very few Chinese or Indian participants. This failed to reflect the multiracial nature of the country—a fatal flaw for PN. A rally organized by those without political credibility would fail to strike a chord with the public.
4月前
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