I would like to state my disgust on Najib Abdul Razak's statement that "Public protests are not part of Malaysian culture. Demonstrations achieve nothing. They only tear down the spirit of national unity that past leaders toiled so hard to build." (NST, Nov 12). This statement is also frequently repeated by other leaders in the ruling party when the people come out to the streets to demand their rights.

What does Najib mean by saying demonstrations are not part of our culture? How is it that when Khairy (the prime minister's son-in-law) joins the protest against the Burma government or when Pemuda Umno has a protest on any issue, such as the protest against the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall a few years back, these statements were not made? Why are these kinds of statements only made when the people come down to oppose the Barisan Nasional government?

What about before Merdeka? Many protests were held to demand for Merdeka. Even Umno had demonstrations to protest the Malayan Union. So, demonstrations is part of our culture as we fight for our rights, isn't it? By saying that "demonstrations tear down national unity which past leaders toiled hard to build" is a blatant lie.

All the while, past leaders have played up racial issues and further polarised the people so that the rakyat does not unite on national issues. Actually, demonstrations especially on national issues such as free and fair elections unite people of all races and religions to come together for our rights. This promotes national unity on the ground.

Demonstrations are crucial to highlight issues that are effecting the people. Demonstrations are a right that people must have in order to continually voice their views and dissatisfactions on issues affecting them in a democratic country. Malaysia is a democratic country, isn't it?

Of course, the government has going on the propaganda that demonstrations bring violence. But the question here is, who created the violence? The police or the people? Saturday's rally clearly showed that in Masjid India, the police created the violence by attacking a peaceful rally. The police made Kuala Lumpur look like a police state, not the people.

I would like to salute all those who were brave to come down to the streets on Saturday despite continuous warnings and intimidation by government propaganda. I just wish that the King would also be brave enough to issue a statement saying that he has the right to listen to the people and stop the government from treating him like a kid.