Najib: Govt willing to provide venues for people to vent anger

By NELSON BENJAMIN and HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH

MUAR: The Government is prepa-red to provide suitable venues including stadiums for people to gather and air their grievances or opinions without having to resort to demonstrating on the streets, said Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said people should not take part in street protests as it would only inconvenience others.

“We can provide them stadiums where they can shout themselves hoarse till dawn, but don’t cause disturbance on the streets,” said Najib in commenting on the illegal assemblies in several areas in the federal capital on Saturday.

He said there were stadiums in Opposition states like Selangor that could be used for such gatherings, adding that it was unnecessary to inconvenience other road users.

Najib also defended police actions, saying that they were done in the interest of public order and safety.

Asked if more Opposition leaders would be arrested in connection with the demonstrations, Najib said it would be up to the police to decide based on the findings of their investigations.

Speaking to reporters after opening the Pagoh Umno delegates meeting here yesterday, Najib said the police have a duty to preserve safety and order and could take action against those responsible for disrupting the peace.

“It is up to the authorities. Street demonstrations should not continue,” he said.

Najib added that the Opposition were trying to portray the Govern-ment as cruel.

On a statement by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a gathering in Muar two days ago that the Opposition would start attacking Umno’s bastion in Johor, Najib dismissed it as wishful thinking.

He expressed confidence that the state leadership would be able to quash any such attempt.