Rafidah Aziz to red-shirts: Just what are you trying to prove

PETALING JAYA: Former Cabinet minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (pic) has slammed the people behind a rally, dubbed red-shirts, on Sept 16, saying it serves no purpose to counter the Bersih 4 rally last weekend.

"It serves no purpose for anyone to mount a counter demonstration to Bersih 4, which had clear demands.

"What are they going to demonstrate for? Just what are they trying to prove," said the former International Trade and Industry Minister on Fecebook.

Rafidah, former Wanita Umno chief, slammed those who painted the Bersih 4 rally in a racial light, saying they were avoiding the real issue and took the easy way out by playing the race card, "blaming others and playing the number games to give the impression of 'strength”.

“In the process, the issues that the Rakyat are worried about, and want to see expeditious resolution to, are being simply marginalised and skirted around,” she said.

She added that the issues the country is facing had to do with governance, transparency and integrity, not race.

“The people place priority on these things. The proper economic governance and the trustworthiness of those in position of authority,” she said.

"Are they implying that it is all OK that we are facing the mess, that they support the actions that have led to the national embarrassment?

"That they condone what the leaders have done?

"Just what are they proving by trying to get some Malays , especially from Umno, to be brought to KL to demonstrate...in red shirts?

"Have those who are going to demonstrate being given the right information. Do they know what's really happening?

"It would be better to have Prayer sessions all over the country..to pray to the Almighty to show the way to the Truth...to pray that this Country will be saved," she said.

Rafidah said doing what is right that can save Malaysia.

"Right now we have moved many steps backwards, regardless of what statistics of growth show.

"And 16 September is Malaysia Day.  A day to celebrate our unity in diversity.

"The planned demonstration goes totally counter to that and has the potential to create more chasms and divisiveness," she said.

It was reported that the red-shirt rally organised by a Malay non-governmental organisation would be a show of solidarity against Bersih 4. It would be held for 12 hours starting at Low Yat Plaza in Bukit Bintang.