KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13: The People’s Uprising Assembly (HKR112) yesterday made history with the presence of so many people proving that they want independence for the second time.
PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that Malaysia needed a “second independence” to restore the country’s democratic system.
He said that the first independence which was first accomplished by Umno-BN in 1957 has been abused and it is time the coalition is replaced after administrating the country for over 50 years.
“Foreign colonialists have already left the country and we achieved independence with the actuality of being a pluralistic society.
“For almost 50 years, the people have trusted the Alliance coalition which is now Barisan National.
“There are no colonists but the people are idling, many young people are still unemployed. National treasures have been swept-up,” he said in his speech at HKR112 at Merdeka Stadium yesterday.
The assembly, which lasted about three hours, managed to gather 80,000 participants inside and out of the historic stadium.
Meanwhile. DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said that the tremendous attendance at HKR112 shows that the people want change in the country’s administration.
“Today PR reiterates our desire, that Malaysia belongs to 28 million Malaysians, regardless of race, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazans or Ibanese.
Why should we believe Umno-BN because Malays take care of Malays, Chinese take care of Chinese, Indians take care of Indians, Ibanese takes care of Ibanese, and Kadazans takes care of Kadazans only?
“We want to prove that Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibanese, Kadazans and others, we can take care of each other.”