Dozens of protesters calling themselves Pemantau Malaysia Baru (Guardians of the New Malaysia) marched on national police headquarters this morning, claiming that DAP, one of the leading coalition parties, is working overtime to make Christianity an official religion in Malaysia.
While there was precisely zero evidence to support their worries, the group claimed they were there to a) represent the interests of Malay people, and b) defend Islam. For good measure, they also claimed to be showing their support for the Tang di-Pertuan Agong, monarch and head of state in Malaysia, whose traditional powers they insist are threatened by the newly elected government.
Led by Umno Youth Executive Council member Faisal Ismail Aziz, as well as Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam, they began to rile crowds up with chest-beating speeches that started at 7am.
Among those in the throng was actress Elly Suriaty Omar, who two weeks ago helped get a press conference by the attorney-general canceled when she and others showed up to loudly protest his decision to conduct the trial of former PM Najib Razak in English.
Umno’s Lokman had told reporters last week that the group would be marching with tape covering their mouths and hands bound, to illustrate what they allege is a diminishing of the Agong’s power. While Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, the Agong possesses executive power over the federal government, most notably the ability to veto. That power, however, is muted in practice by the fact that he is bound to exercise it on the advice of the executive branch.
While no amendments have been made to Malaysia’s constitution that would alter the Agong’s status since he came to power, the relationship between new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed and the monarchy has been characterized by some as tenuous.
That perceived schism dates to 1983, when Mahathir — during his first lengthy run as premier — was responsible for amending the country’s constitution to remove royal immunity, after high-profile assault incidents perpetrated by members of royal families initiated calls for reform.
Meanwhile, many pro-Muslim groups have taken to race-baiting in recent weeks following the appointments of some non-Muslim individuals in high-ranking government roles, such as Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Attorney General Tommy Thomas.
Live video from today’s event shows that the group decided to forego the previously announced plans to cover they mouths, and can be seen here cheering Allahu akbar (God is great) and hidup Malayu (long live Malays).
