‘Turun Anwar' for political relevance, not justice, says Prime Minister's aide
Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025
By: Minderjeet Kaur, FMT Text Size: Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said those seeking change should do so through elections instead of putting on a show through street protests. Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's political secretary has dismissed the upcoming 'Turun Anwar' rally as a politically motivated stunt by those trying to stay relevant after losing the last general election. Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said while organisers were framing the July 26 protest as a response to public frustration, their real motive lay elsewhere.
Advertisement 'This is not about the people, it is about a small group attempting to reverse what they failed to achieve through the ballot box,' he said in his speech at the National Economic Forum organised by the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. Perikatan Nasional is reportedly aiming to draw 300,000 participants to the rally at Dataran Merdeka. A smaller protest held in Shah Alam on July 6 drew over 300 attendees. Shamsul said the government was given the mandate through a 'free and fair' election and had been working tirelessly since then to resolve long-standing issues left by previous administrations such as institutional decay and weaknesses in governance and fiscal management. 'You do not fix democracy by disrespecting it,' he said, warning against attempts to distort the democratic process. 'If change is desired, contest the next election, that is the democratic way. This protest is not a movement for justice but a performance for relevance,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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