KUALA LUMPUR // Police fired water cannons at ethnic Malays who turned unruly on Wednesday at a pro-government rally that many fear has the potential to provoke racial trouble in this multi-ethnic nation with large Chinese and Indian minorities.
The rally — a collection of several marches that converged on a central field near Parliament — was ostensibly called to emphasise the dominance of Malays in Malaysia, as well as to support the government of prime minister Najib Razak, who is under pressure to resign over a $700 million financial scandal. But the rally is also being seen as a challenge to the Chinese and Indians, who had gathered in large numbers in an anti-Najib rally on August 29 and 30.
Unlike that rally, which was banned by the police, the Malay parade on Wednesday was allowed to go ahead by authorities.
“I am here to defend Malay dignity and dominance,” said Rahamah Abdul Majid, one of the protesters. Other demonstrators blew horns and chanted “Long live the Malays.” Some carried banners that read, “People unite to defend the government of the people’s choice.”
Most of the thousands of redshirted protesters taking part in the rally demonstrated peacefully at the grounds near parliament. But a small group threw plastic bottles at police and tried to push their way through barricades into Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, shouting “This is Malay land.” Riot police retaliated by firing chemical-laced water from a fire engine.
The rally included Cabinet members and leaders from Mr Najib’s ruling United Malays National Organization, the dominant group in the ruling coalition that has held power since independence in 1957.
* Associated Press
