Cover image via SAYS / Malaysiakini
PM Najib Razak declared that the organisers and participants are "shallow and poor in patriotism and love for their motherland", lambasting them for using National Day as a "stage for political conflict"
Image via AP
He also accused "those who wear this yellow attire" of deliberately trying to discredit the country's "good name" to the international community
Image via Reuters
Later, he cited "media reports" that only an insignificant 20,000 people attended the protest while "the rest of the Malaysian population are with the government", adding that they can "gather hundreds of thousands" from FELDA settlers alone
Najib speaking at Gong Badak Stadium, Kuala Terengganu yesterday (29 August).
Image via The Star Online's YouTube
Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek came to the conclusion that the Bersih 4 rally is not only intended to topple the government, they are also bent on destroying the country
Image via Istimewa
UMNO division chief Datuk Azian Osman called on deputy PM Dato' Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to arrest participants of the "illegal assembly", adding that UMNO can assemble 200,000 people and even former PM Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to back the party too
Image via Twitter @AzianOsman
Indeed, Zahid Hamidi – who is also Home Minister – gave his word that the authorities are monitoring the situation at the rally and that action will be taken towards those who act against the law, especially the masterminds behind Bersih 4
Image via The Star Online
The Deputy Prime Minister also advised the Malays to not allow themselves to be exploited by DAP for political purposes
Image via Merdeka Online
Zahid also remarked on Tun Dr. Mahathir's brief appearance on the 1st day of the rally, saying that no one should support a leader who appeared at a rally "for only six minutes"
Image via The Star Online
Speaking of Tun M, several UMNO ministers expressed their disappointment that the former premier had joined the rally last night. He was also present at the Central Market section of the rally today.
Image via The Rakyat Post
Image via The Star Online
UMNO mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia reported that many Malays are unhappy with the former PM for appearing at Bersih 4 on 29 August, as it contradicts his previous stand on public protests
Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, however, does not seem fazed by the rally. In a series of tweets, he remarked on Bersih's failure to topple the ruling coalition BN and that there is more to winning elections than "donning coloured T-shirts, camping overnight or blowing vuvuzelas".
Besides being Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Rahman Dahlan is also MP of Kota Belud and Barisan Nasional's Director of Strategic Communications.
While most are condemning the Bersih 4 rally, newly-elected Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan thanked the participants of Bersih as well as the police for maintaining a peaceful demonstration
Bersih 4 had a pretty exciting start on Day 1. Check out the highlights:
Malaysians stationed all around the world got quite creative with their rallies too:
Keep up with the latest on-ground developments with the SAYS Bersih 4 Live Coverage
Join in the #Bersih4 conversation and keep yourself informed with the live Instagram and Twitter feeds.
