PETALING JAYA: The Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR), which organised the July 21 #Lawan protest in Kuala Lumpur, has reiterated its call for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to step down or face another #Lawan gathering on Aug 21.
The group said Muhyiddin had failed to lead the government and stabilise the country’s political situation, adding that this had left the country struggling to emerge from the effects of the pandemic.
Qyira Yusri, co-founder of Undi18, which is part of rally organiser SSR, said this was especially so with the daily number of Covid-19 cases hitting more than 20,000 three days ago and the total number of deaths crossing 10,000.
“The time for online protests is over because the voices of the people have not been heard.
“Our secretariat has successfully mobilised 2,000 people in the streets before and we aim to have a lot more if Muhyiddin refuses to be held accountable for his failed decisions so far,” she said at a press conference.
Mohammad Asraf Sharafi, the spokesman for SSR, urged all Malaysians, especially the youths, to get ready to take to the streets again.
Asraf said the government has indeed failed and the administration should know when to stop and give space to more capable forces to navigate the country.
With regard to the #Lawan protest held on July 31, another SSR activist, Muhammad Alshatri, said a total of 21 people had been called to give their statements at the Dang Wangi police station, adding that they had given their full cooperation.
“However, 15 of the 21 who gave their statements were visited by the police at their homes. Some even visited the homes of their family members. We believe that this is unnecessary as everyone has given their full cooperation.”
He said police had also released the photos of 40 people who attended the protest. He said this was an act of intimidation.
“The police must stop this form of intimidation as freedom of assembly and association is our basic right.”
Last Saturday, hundreds of protesters, made up of students and youth activists, descended on the capital calling for the resignation of Muhyiddin and his Cabinet.
Gathering outside Masjid Jamek and carrying banners and placards which read “Kerajaan Gagal” (“Failed Government”), they were stopped by police from entering Dataran Merdeka and later dispersed.