Street protests not the way, says Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: Listening to the people’s problems and using feedback to formulate policies is a more effective method than holding street demonstrations, says Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said Umno had long adopted the approach to be close to the grassroots directly through programmes to create policies that better reflect the people’s needs.

“This differentiates us from those wanting to topple the government through street demonstrations, practising political hatred and promoting disunity.

“Such action will not bring any meaning to the majority of the people,” he told reporters at the Ummah Agenda Empowerment 2.0 at Putra World Trade Centre.

Hishammuddin said opposition political members were using rallies to spread politics of hatred but do not focus on the real issues people are facing.

Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak yesterday said the “poor” turnout at the Bersih rally on Saturday showed Malaysians rejected Bersih and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new party.

He said Mahathir’s presence at the rally was supposed to attract Malays to support Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and Bersih 5, but the turnout showed otherwise.

“The demonstration only had 3% of (the capacity) of the rally last year. Only 15,000 came this time, compared to the 500,000 Bersih claimed were present during Bersih 4.

“This means the majority of Malaysians reject Bersih and PPBM,” he said.

However, Bersih estimated that over 100,000 supporters had turned up for the rally.

Salleh said the public were able to see for themselves that PPBM is only a party filled with failed former leaders, and that it was only formed by Mahathir to allow his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir to become prime minister.