I HAVE always believed in the right to protest. Dissent is part of a functioning democracy. But I also believe in calling a spade a spade—and the “Turun Anwar” rally was not a people’s movement. It was a political stunt. A poorly executed one at that.
Let’s be honest: if the goal was to show overwhelming public dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, then the organisers failed, spectacularly. Even the most generous estimates—perhaps 25,000 to 30,000 people—make it look like a half-filled stadium on a second division game day.
In fact, if they had just staged a decent football match at a basic stadium, they might have pulled 50,000 without breaking a sweat. But then again, football inspires unity and pride. This rally inspired little more than confusion and discomfort.
What we saw instead was a carefully curated crowd of PAS loyalists, Bersatu leaders and many bussed in, holding placards they didn’t write and chanting slogans they barely understood.
A smattering of obscure non-Malay party members tried to add legitimacy to the whole show, but it was tokenism in its worst form. The truth is, this wasn’t a multiracial uprising. It was a rally largely hijacked by self-proclaimed defenders of Malay and Islamic supremacy—who now want to wrap their ambitions in our flag and pretend it’s about all Malaysians. Sorry. We’re not buying it.
And let’s get to the heart of the matter. If you really want to remove the Prime Minister, there’s a simple, time-honoured way to do it: call for a vote of no confidence in Parliament. That’s how democracies work. But of course, they won’t do that. Because they know they’ll lose. They know they don’t have the numbers. They know Malaysians aren’t with them—not the urban youth, not the progressive middle-class, not even the silent majority in the kampungs who are beginning to see through the facade. Through the hypocrisy.
What they can do, however, is stir emotion. Prey on fear. Manipulate identity. Spin tales of betrayal and ruin. Pretend that the country is on fire, when in fact what’s burning is their own relevance. But here’s the thing: Malaysians have come too far to fall for this anymore. We’ve sacrificed too much, lived through too many false dawns, to let a group of opportunistic politicians turn back the clock on our democracy.
We don’t want theatrics. We want accountability—in Parliament, where real leaders show up and do the hard work of building a nation. We want robust debate, not empty posturing. We want our opposition to act like a government-in-waiting, not a cabal of grievance merchants shouting from the sidelines. We want them to sell us ideas, inspire us with vision, and offer policies that can stand the test of scrutiny.
We’re facing real issues. Economic pressure, cost-of-living burdens, education reform, environmental degradation, healthcare strain, and yes, corruption still lurking in too many corners. We don’t have time for circus politics.
This rally wasn’t about the people. It wasn’t about justice. It was about power—plain and simple. And Malaysians are finally learning to tell the difference.
To those who think they can destabilise the nation with slogans and saboteurs, here’s some advice: stop insulting our intelligence. Fight in Parliament. Debate like grown-ups. Win our trust, not just our headlines. This is a time for serious leaders. Serious individuals.
Until then, we the rakyat will continue to move forward—with or without you. – July 28, 2025
Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar is the publisher of the Vibes and Chairman of the Petra Group
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