00:00Analysts have urged parties in the Unity government not to mobilize their members for an upcoming rally
00:06in support of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, saying ordinary Malaysians should be allowed
00:10to show their backing for him in an authentic way. Awag Asman Pawi of University Malaya and
00:15University Technology Malaysia's Maslan Ali said this would allow the rally to proceed organically
00:21without any political agenda, especially since it was being organized by an NGO.
00:26Maslan said ordinary Malaysians were deterred from taking part in gatherings such as the recent
00:31Turun Anwar rally due to a perception that they were politically motivated. Awang Asman said unlike
00:37in the Reformasi era when street demonstrations were common, social media has given Malaysians
00:42an alternative platform to air their grouses and views. Kabungan Taxi se Malaysia is set to stage a
00:48rally at Dataran Merdeka on September 27 to express support for Anwar following last Saturday's
00:53Turun Anwar gathering at the same venue. Maslan said keeping the pro-Anwar rally free of political
01:00involvement would lend the perception that the support for the Prime Minister was coming from
01:04actual Malaysians. He added that if the rally has no clear objectives similar to the Turun Anwar rally,
01:10it would not excite the people. Natasha Beast, FMT
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