MP SPEAKS In a democracy, peaceful assembly is a democratic right that must not be denied. Thus any group can exercise that right.

However, it cannot be accepted when the purpose of the assembly or demonstration is to incite racial hatred.

Hence, it is the right of Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Rafii if he wants to organise street demonstration to express his support for the prime minister.

But it is highly irresponsible and provocative when he has called for Malays to counter the purportedly ‘Chinese’ Bersih 4 rally last weekend by fanning racial hatred against the Chinese.

He was quoted to have said the following in a statement last night:

“We realise the relationship between races is eroding recently because of the attitude of the Chinese, who are communistic in their ideology, and have openly rejected Malays, bumiputera and Islam openly on social media using their language.

“This was why so many Chinese youths dared to demonstrate on the streets simply to ensure that the government will fall.

“If that is what they want, then perhaps it is time for Malays and bumiputera to hit the streets to demand back their rights on this soil.”

Razlan’s allegations against the Chinese are highly irresponsible, totally baseless and absurd. His sole purpose is only to racialise the Bersih 4 rally and to fan racial hatred against the Chinese.

The police should be swift in taking action against Raslan.

It is obvious that there are people who are out to create racial tension with inflammatory remarks on the Internet, after the successful and peaceful Bersih 4 rally.

The police should therefore focus their efforts on these provocateurs and keep their hands off the Bersih 4 organisers and participants.

The Bersih 4 rally did not cause any racial tension or chaos, but the provocateurs who are ultra kiasu can bring about racial problems if their provocation is not nipped in the bud.

TERESA KOK is DAP national vice-chairperson and MP for Seputeh.