Defence Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak said today that Malaysia is democratic even without public rallies as the people have the ultimate power to determine the next government.

He said Malaysia was recognised by the world as a democratic country whose government had been decided through the general election process since independence from Britain in 1957.

"No one is disputing our general election. Hence with or without public rallies we are still a democracy. The important thing is, the people should have the right and power to elect the government openly," Bernama quoted him as saying.

Najib who is also Umno vice-president felt that the holding of election rallies should not be made an issue and instead the police should be allowed to decide on them.

Understand EC duties

The minister said this when asked to comment on the statement by the Election Commission that election rallies would be allowed depending on police permission.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said on Sept 12 that election rallies could be held but the final decision on allowing or disallowing them rested with the police.

Najib said political parties and the general public should understand that the duties of the Election Commission were to conduct the elections, register voters and enforce the law relevant to the elections.

However the question of public rallies, which concerned security and public order, came under the jurisdiction of the police and it was they who would decide on this matter, he stressed.