Malay NGOs slam labelling of Bersih 4 as 'Chinese'
A coalition of Malay NGOs has slammed efforts to label the Bersih 4 demonstration on Aug 29 and 30 as a case of Malays coming under threat from the Chinese community.
"We oppose efforts by certain quarters to manipulate news about Bersih 4 to give a false picture that it is controlled by Jews and DAP Chinese without evidence.
"We see it as a ruse to distract from the reality that people are feeling agitated over the government's people-unfriendly policies," it said in a joint statement today.
The 17 NGOs include Gerakan Intelektual Rakyat, Seniman Paksi Rakyat, Kumpulan Aktivis Media Independen, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera, and Jingga 13.
The statement also criticised the fear-mongering among Malays against the Chinese promoted by certain quarters, stating that these voices were absent when Malay villages in Kuala Lumpur were bulldozed.
"They have never defended the Malays but had instead manipulated them," he said.
However, the coalition of NGOs acknowledged the strong Chinese turn out at Bersih 4 compared to Malays.
It blamed this on politicking and the playing up of racial and religious sentiments which distracted them from real issues, such as the economy.
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