The speculated rally is proposed to happen on New Year's Eve at Dataran Merdeka. (Graphics by: Dayang Norazhar/The Mole.)
KUALA LUMPUR- Social media platforms have been abuzz with posts regarding the speculated “rally to topple the government” that is proposed to take place at Dataran Merdeka this New Year’s Eve.
Despite numerous quarters demanding that the demonstration is not pursued, many of the users; in the Facebook group that was created for the rally, seemed adamant that it should be carried out.
The proposed rally had up its ante, when social media reported that a Facebook account holder had provoked other users to participate in the rally with underlying elements of violence.
He had allegedly posted on Saturday: "Selamat pagi dan selamat membuat persiapan utk merusuh, buat persediaan yg secukupnya, rehatkan diri kerana nanti kita akan memerlukan tenaga yg lebih utk menggulingkan kerajaan zalim UMNOBN pd malam ambangnya sambutan tahun baru! Ayuh rakyat ayuh! Kalau boleh sila bawa perkakasan, peralatan utk mempertahankandiri dari serangan anjing umno iaitu POLIS..... saya nak cari bom, ada tak? Inbox sy. tq."
(The Mole translation: Good morning and happy preparing for the riot, make enough preparations. Rest well because we will need the extra energy to topple the cruel UMNOBN government on New Year's eve! Rise, people, rise! If possible, please bring equipment and tools to defend yourself from the attacks of Umno 'dogs' that is the police... I'm looking for a bomb, anyone has one? Inbox me. Thank you.)
The alleged post is considered an offence under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation as well as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma.
The police are preparing to arrest the netizen who is reponsbile for the post, whose name appeared as “Asmaelz Hadzeny II” on Facebook, for criminal intimidation and for detrimental acts to parliamentary democracy and are setting up a special team to check on the threat to overthrow the government through undemocratic means.
The account had since been deactivated and the user himself claimed to deny having said any of the provocation; saying that his account was “cloned” and had since then created a new account.
In addition, the police have also remanded anti-price hike rally chief, Mohd Azan Safar of Turun NGO yesterday to assist in police investigations as he was believed to be linked with the proposed rally.
Meanwhile, under the #RPDM31D hash-tag in Twitter, A few leaders had also shown their support by tweeting about the proposed rally, expressing their sentiments and agreeing upon the implementation of the event.
Pas Research Centre director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad’s tweet read:
Pastikan rentas semua golongan anak muda @chegubard: "@SAMMalaysia: WAJIB SEBAR – #RakyatPilihDataranMerdeka31Dis http://shar.es/O6hjr "
(Make sure the words are spread out to the youth @chegubard: “@SAMMalaysia: compulsory to share).
Opposition leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had tweeted:
Salam "@paihfauzi: slamat pagi isnin @n_izzah.. .. 9 days a go.. waiting for the time 31.12.13... #RPDM31D #REFORMASI"
(Greetings “@paihfauzi: Happy Monday Morning @n_izzah.. ..9 days to go.. waiting for the time 31.12.13).
Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM)’s president and political activist, Badrul Hisham Shahrin or Chegubard’s tweet read:
"@SAMMalaysia: Protes rakyat ambang 2014 di Dataran Merdeka - Malaysiakinihttp://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/249734 @abby_abadi112 #RPDM31D @zunarkartunis " (“@SAMMalaysia: People’s Protest Eve of 2014 at Dataran Merdeka).
Meanwhile, SAMM’s president, Chegubard when contacted said SAMM would be participating in the proposed rally and that they were responsible for the promotion of the rally through social media, SMS distribution and printed posters.
He said that the protest was a collective effort from the people themselves; who were dissatisfied with the recent price hike which involved toll concessions, petrol, sugar, electricity and public transportation.
“We understand that the Rakyat is under pressure by the recent hike, therefore they’ve started spreading out messages in social media to protest against it.”
“The event is not organised by any political parties or NGOs hence it is a collective effort from the Rakyat to express their sentiment,” he spoke to The Mole in a recent telephone interview.
Chegubard said he was unaware of other organisation’s involvement but said that there would be a few number of small organisations and NGOs participating in the event whose identity were unknown.
He said he was also unaware as to who "started the fire", but denied political party and other NGOs involvement in the protest.
He had also told the police not to worry about the safety of the event as it will be conducted in a peaceful manner.
“We were involved in many protests before and track records had shown that we conduct rallies peacefully, I don’t think the police have anything to be worried about.” he added.
Prior to this, the police have probed into the speculated rally and have warned the public not to participate as it was deemed to be a national threat to the country
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had declared the rally to be illegal and said the police would investigate and take proactive measures to prevent the rally.
“We deem it as a threat to national security and the police have taken steps to make sure the gathering is not carried out,” he said.
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