Malaysian police fire water cannons at Malay protesters

The rally is seen by some as a challenge to the country’s Chinese- and Indian-origin residents, who participated in large numbers in an anti-Najib rally on August 29 and 30. The protesters claimed to “uphold Malay dignity” and shouted “This is Malay land” during the demonstrations. Some carried banners that read, “People unite to defend the government of the people’s choice”.

Zaharah Ariffin – wearing a red T-shirt and headscarf – told the website she came in a three-van convoy from Pahang – a central state of the Malaysian peninsula – but when asked what she knew of the rally she was reported to have shrugged and shied away. Riot police then fired chemical-laced water to disperse the crowd.

Kuala Lumpur: Thousands of ruling-party supporters marched through Malaysia’s capital on Wednesday to support the embattled government and assert the political dominance of the Malay majority, in a demonstration whose racial overtones have sparked concern.

Many Kuala Lumpur businesses run by Chinese – who make up about a quarter of Malaysia’s population – were shuttered for the day out of fear of disturbances.

Malaysia has a history of ethnic tensions.

Just two weeks after a mass rally demanding the resignation of Malaysia’s prime minister, another big rally is taking place on Wednesday (Sept 16) in Kuala Lumpur – this time to show support for the government.

Najib had previously reminded Malaysians about unity in his speech, “Let us all remember, if we are not united, lose our solidarity and cohesion, all problems will not be resolved, and everything we have laboriously built will be destroyed just like that”.

The Malaysian ringgit is down 26 percent from a year earlier, breaching 4 ringgit to the dollar last month, it’s weakest level in 17 years.

Premier Najib had said that he would not stop Umno members from attending the rally. He is also saddled with allegations of mismanagement at 1MDB.

He also said Zahid has to admit that whatever political narrative that Najib used to justify 1MDB’s existence and the billion ringgit donation, it is a good example of bad corporate governance due to flouting of rules, regulations and standards.

Veteran former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who led Malaysia and UMNO for more than two decades until his retirement in 2003, has been at the forefront of the campaign against Najib, and participated in the Bersih protest.

The Prime Minister also said the Government was reactivating ValueCap, formed in 2002, as an entity to support under-performing shares and had proven to be effective in stabilising the equity market. The last major violent clashes occurred on May 13, 1969 following national elections.