Pakatan reps in rally show no respect for law: Ahmad Zahid

(Bernama) – The opposition-backed demonstration around Dataran Merdeka here which turned violent last Saturday shows that the opposition members of parliament involved have no respect for the law which they themselves supported in parliament.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who said this, noted that they (opposition) also did not respect the court’s decision.

The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court had issued an injunction preventing any gathering to be held at Dataran Merdeka from April 28 to May 1.

“The gathering which was supposed to be peaceful to demand for fair and clean elections instead degenerated into chaos and violence, causing damage to public property,” he said in his speech at the ministry’s staff monthly assembly, here, today.

Ahmad Zahid said the rally organisers’ demand were already addressed by the government with the formation of the Parliamentary Select Committee for Electoral Reform, which also included opposition MPs.

“The country’s electoral system is also fair and transparent, and the proof is that the opposition won five states in the last general election in 2008 and eight of the 16 by-elections after that.”

Ahmad Zahid also congratulated Malaysian Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkefili Mohd Zin who refuted Perak PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s allegation that the prime minister had met with military chiefs, asking them to do something if Barisan Nasional loses in the coming 13th general election, as it was a lie.

Also present at the assembly were Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latif Ahmad, the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Ahmad and General Zulkefili.