KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Utusan Malaysia said today that street demonstrations could open the door to Jews and Israel to interfere in the country’s affairs.The Umno-owned newspaper specifically named Bersih as such an example after citing former police chief Tan Sri Rahim Noor’s assertion that there were parties who wanted any country that was against Jews and Israel to be toppled.
“When the drums in the name of basic human rights becomes louder, it gives an opportunity to pro-Jewish groups to interfere in any Muslim country,” Utusan said in an editorial today.
“We may not be aware that supporting an action, including demonstrations, can trap us in the mission of foreign parties who are trying to control the country. The same with the illegal Bersih gathering, it is not free from getting foreign aid where thousands of ringgit was channelled into their account.”
The Malay daily also added that “we have seen a political leader who is said to be close to Jewish leaders and NGOs. Due to political ambitions, Islam and Malays can be sold out,” it said, repeating allegations it has made in the past against opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whose Pakatan Rakyat (PR) were firm backers of Bersih.
Utusan Malaysia has also painted Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan as anti-Islam and previously alleged that Bersih was funded by Christian groups such as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation from Germany and the Canadian Allied Foundation.
It added today that “Muslims and Malaysians should not allow any party especially Jews from interfering in the affairs of this country”.
Its news editor, Zulkiflee Bakar, also wrote in a separate commentary that swift action should be taken against the Bersih chief, as “we want to know the truth behind the allegations that Ambiga has received foreign funds to organise the illegal demonstration”.
Bersih had gone ahead with the July 9 gathering despite being denied police permission, plunging Kuala Lumpur into chaos as tens of thousands poured into the city, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of a PKR division leader’s husband.
The coalition of 62 NGOs had earlier agreed to an offer by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to move its street gathering to a stadium but was then told by authorities not to gather in the capital, ruling out its choice of the historical Stadium Merdeka.
Following the rally, Utusan Malaysia had also accused Anwar, Ambiga and DAP leaders of using PAS and Malays as political tools to press ahead with the rally.
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