KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29, 2015:
The Bersih 4 rally started off with a noticeable lack of Malay participants as the Chinese made up most of the numbers.
Many of the Chinese who are taking part in the protest voiced their concerns that the rally would fizzle out without the support of Malays.
Rally participant Lee Kok Seng, who travelled with friends from Johor Bahru yesterday night, said the Bersih rally will have little impact without the Malays to make up the numbers.
“I fear this would give anti-Bersih groups the pretext to say that Bersih is masterminded by the Chinese.
“It might lead to racial tension if such statements do coe about and left unchecked by the authorities,” he told The Rakyat Post.
Another participant Tan Kok Ann, from Kuantan, said absence could be due to PAS pulling out from the rally.
“Perhaps it’s also an indication that Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB), led by former PAS leaders, are too new to gain considerable support from the Malays.
“If the Malays do not come out in numbers, it will also reflect poorly on PKR.
“In any case, we hope our Malay brethren would turn up as the rally progresses,” said the 36-year old real estate agent.
It was reported yesterday that according to independent pollster Merdeka Center, a survey on 1,010 voters found that 43% were favourable of the Bersih 4 rally set to take place this weekend, while 47% were not favourable of it.
The survey also found that the Chinese were most supportive of the rally, with 81% favourable, in contrast with the 51% Indian and 23% Malay voters who were supportive, according to the results posted on the pollster’s website.
The survey suggests that participants will likely be drawn from urban, internet-savvy and non-Bumiputera voters.
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