‘Father of demonstrations’ says street protests not the answer

BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said public protests do not result in meaningful solutions, citing his own experience from the early days of his political career.

Ahmad Zahid was elected head of Umno Youth in 1996 and was briefly held under the Internal Security Act in 1998 following the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as deputy prime minister.

Speaking during the opening of the Lembah Pantai Umno division meeting today, he said he was angrier during his youth, but has since learned to be more grounded.

“Demonstrations are not the way to protect the people. It has to be translated in a realistic manner. Go down to the ground, like how Raja Nong Chik does,” Ahmad Zahid said, referring to former Federal Territories minister and Lembah Pantai Umno chief Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

– See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/father-of-demonstrations-says-street-protests-not-the-answer#sthash.LfuPD59v.dpuf