[asia-apec 786] Why BN Rally Cancelled

[appasec]

Why Barisan National Rally Cancelled

GERAK Secretariat has been informed that the management of the National Stadium at Bukit Jalil had withdrawn the permission allowing GERAK to hold a mass gathering at the stadium on 17 October 1998. The gathering was expected to draw about half a million people. GERAK had already booked and paid the rental of RM4,500 for the venue. It was only awaiting police permit. By withdrawing its permission on the basis that the stadium needed repair, the management had actually saved the police from having to refuse issuing the permit.

This development followed an earlier police decision not to issue permit for a rally organised by the Barisan Nasional (BN) a week earlier on 10 October 1998. What really happened? Actually, Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and UMNO clearly had to bow to the will of the people.

After realising that all his actions against Anwar Ibrahim could not convince the majority of people, Mahathir and UMNO had to admit that it was impossible for them to draw the crowd needed to attend the BN rally, tagged as "the leader together with the people" (more appropriately "a desperate leader wishing to be with the people"). The sign was clear when only about 2000 people attended a gathering to welcome Mahathir in Jitra, Kedah a few days earlier. Most of the 2000 present were government servants who were directed to attend and members of the Special Branch (SB) and the Federal Reserve (FRU) units.

Originally the BN rally at Bukit Jalil was to be organised by the youth wing of the component parties. The target was to get 100,000 people attending. But after campaigning hard to mobilise the youths, the organisers realised that it was not possible to attract such a large number of participants. The parent body of BN tried to take over. It promissed that 150,000 people would attend. The organisers tried to mobilise all UMNO members. When this attempt did not show any sign of success, efforts were made to get teachers and students from schools and training colleges.

Desirous of demonstrating his undivided support for Mahathir and hoping to be picked as the next Deputy Prime Minister perhaps, Education Minister Datuk Najib directed that every school should send at least 14 teachers. Attempts were also made to mobilise factory workers, who were offered financial incentives, to show support for the desperate leader. Yet the organisers were not confident that they would be able to achieve the set target.

It finally dawned upon the organisers that they had made a mistake. They were also worried that the stadium might be inundated by Anwar supporters who would be shouting reformation and pro-Anwar slogans rather than support for Mahathir. Further, they feared that the gathering planed by GERAK a week later would successfully draw a much bigger crowd, as expected. They were in great dilemma.

Finally, they decided that the BN rally for their desperate leader had to be cancelled. The most respectable thing to do was to have the police refuse issuing a permit. This could save face for the great leader of BN. At the same time, it would help make the police appear to be fair too.

PRM Secretariat
10 October 1998