Summary

  • Akmal challenges student protesters who torched Anwar’s image to set a time and place where they can meet.

  • He draws comparisons with how Najib’s image was disrespected in the past.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh is joining the chorus of those trying to rally the public against student protesters who set fire to an image of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

In a Facebook post last night, Akmal called the protesters stupid and rude - and challenged them to a meeting.

“If you’re not satisfied with my statement, I can arrange a meeting with you. I really want to meet these students.

“Please tell me the time and place. God willing, I will meet you adik-adik (younglings) face to face,” he said.

Akmal urged those who were angered in the past when images of leaders were disrespected to also be angry now.

His post contained a photo of a protester showing their posterior above an image of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

Protesting corruption

On Sunday, student protesters in Sabah capped off a 22-hour protest against corruption by burning a poster of Anwar, with the words “Madani protector of corrupt Sabahans”.

Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah spokesperson Fadhil Kasim said the banner symbolised a scathing critique of Anwar’s administration, which the group claimed had failed to uphold promises of institutional reforms.

A burned image of PM Anwar Ibrahim during an anti-corruption rally in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Anwar has been criticised, among others, for the appointment of Musa Aman as the Sabah governor.

In 2018, Musa was slapped with 46 criminal charges linked to timber concession contracts in the state.

However, he was acquitted and discharged of all charges when prosecutors withdrew the case against him in June 2020.

In response to criticism over the image burning, Fadhli said that he was inspired by Anwar’s student protests in the past, including when he burned a book on the May 13 riots by Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Police probing UMS protesters for open burning, 3R

Police probing UMS protesters for open burning, 3R

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YOURSAY | Anwar doesn’t deserve a second term

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'Don't torch the cause': Ex-MACC chief slams burning of PM's image

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Anwar's mid-term approval rating at 55pct

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UMS condemns burning of PM’s caricature, to lodge police report