Demonstrations will not solve political problems or issues in any given situation, said Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

ahmad zahid hamidi The self confessed demonstrator during his student days in the 1970s, Zahid said it was just a waste of time and a way to get hit back with a vengeance.

This was because the country's political mould was not the same as in other countries as Malaysia gained independence via negotiation.

"I don't think we need demonstrations to express views. Members of Parliament are given ample opportunity to get their message across via the traditional and new media," he told reporters after launching the 'Al-Quran Sinar Sejagat 2' Wakaf Fund at Kompleks Taman Seni Islam Selangor today.

Zahid cynically congratulated the organiser of the July 9 demonstration for successfully tarnishing the country's good image.

"Congratulations, all the international electronic and print media have painted a bad image of Malaysia.

"My friends from Islamic countries had named Malaysia, Turkey and Iran as good examples of Muslim countries but the demonstration shattered all that."

Zahid questioned the purpose of the demonstration because nobody spoke although it claimed to fight for freedom of speech.

- Bernama