Tuesday, June 25, 2013

790) NEW STRAITS TIMES 22/6/13 - Safety concerns raised over Blackout 505 rally



KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition should know better than infringing upon the rights of others.

That was the response from several quarters who voiced their concern for the safety of those travelling to the city today in view of the opposition-led rally.

It is learnt that the opposition and their allies would gather at several points in the city and march to Padang Merbok despite their application to hold a demonstration at the venue being rejected by City Hall.

Recalling what had taken place in the last rally organised by Bersih, Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan described the opposition-led rally as ridiculous as it was a threat to public order.

What had started as something ridiculous has become ludicrous. We should not trample on others' rights to live peacefully.

The opposition should respect the choice made by the people of the country in the last general election.

Do you know what happened during the last Bersih rally? We received many reports by kidney patients who were not able to attend their scheduled dialysis treatments that day because of the ruckus caused by the opposition, said Nadzim.

He said some patients even passed out after failing to receive treatment, as they were fearful of the dangers posed by the rally.

Nadzim added a majority had grown tired of the demonstrations.

We did a survey and discovered that even opposition supporters have had enough of them (rallies). They just want to move on and feel that Pakatan should address their grouses through legal channels.

As the gatherings would be held at several public locations, including a shopping mall, Malaysia Shopping Malls Association member Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said that security for mall employees was a matter of concern.

He said businesses were likely to be hampered whenever roads were closed due to such events.

That is my main concern. Most will be afraid to come to work and worse, they will not get paid (for that day).

One must take into consideration that 70 per cent of staff in shopping malls nationwide are women.

At any time when the main arteries to Kuala Lumpur are closed, you can see a drop in business activities, said Ameer, who is also Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad executive director.

Malaysian Taxi Owners and Drivers Association secretary Hiew Pow Man said the rallies would severely affect the livelihood of taxi drivers.

If the organisers are determined to hold the rally (despite going against the law), I just hope that they will keep everything to a minimum, as they must think about taxi drivers, too.

If they keep demonstrating for long hours, then how are we going to make ends meet for the day?

They must remember that there are 30,000 taxis providing service in the city.

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