Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad described last Saturday’s rally at the Merdeka Stadium as a mimicry of what happened in several Arab countries, with the intention of toppling the present government.    

He said the organisers cannot win through the general election.   

“So they hope to topple the present government by copying the Arab countries. But Malaysia is not like them, we don’t have a dictatorship, our government is chosen by the people.   

“They did not copy democratic methods. A rally or demonstration should have a cause not ‘demonstration on Shamsidar’. It appears that whenever there’s a court case there must be a demonstration,” he told reporters in Cyberjaya today.  

Mahathir further remarked that the rally caused a dilemma for the authorities who safeguarded public order.    

“It’s a do or die situation. If they take action they'll be accused of being aggressive but if they don't, they’ll also be commented on,” he said.  

- Bernama