Protester accepts Akmal's challenge, Zaid recalls Umno's 'fiery' demos

Summary

• Activist who took part in anti-graft protest accepts Akmal’s challenge to meet up.

• Zaid says neither Akmal nor Umno are best examples of good behaviour.

One of the activists who partook in the Sabah anti-graft protest over the weekend has taken up Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s challenge for a “meet-up”.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim also weighed in on the matter, saying neither Akmal nor Umno are exactly the best example of good behaviour.

Akmal had earlier called the Sabah student protesters stupid and rude for burning an image of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and said he wanted to meet them.

In a post on Instagram, Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (Haram) information chief Fakrurrazzi Khairur Rijal revealed that he had contacted the Umno Youth chief to set up a meeting - to which the latter agreed.

Tentatively, they will meet on the night of July 1 at Rumah Mandiri, Petaling Jaya.

Fakrurrazzi further challenged PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim - who also criticised the image burning - to face the protesters for a debate.

Kamil had said that the protesters resorted to burning Anwar’s image because they lacked valid arguments.

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.

‘Where’s the good behaviour?’

Zaid believed the students showed restraint and that this was part of a peaceful protest.

Hence, he said, Akmal should not call the students stupid or uncultured.

“Akmal once described (Seputeh MP) Teresa Kok as an old Nyonya, and Umno burned (DAP adviser) Lim Guan Eng’s photo sometime back.

“Selangor Umno burned my photo when I defended Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a good candidate for prime minister in 2017. Where was the good behaviour?

“Why get so sensitive about such protests? Anwar is a seasoned protester himself. Just relax la,” he said.

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