Rallies Are Just A Game Of One Upmanship

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FOLLOWING the Federal Court decision that ruled a section of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 criminalising not giving notice of assemblies to the authorities as unconstitutional, it has been smooth sailing for holding the anti-Anwar Ibrahim rally this Saturday.
The police will not be closing any roads in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the rally, and are expecting to have 10,000 to 15,000 participants converging at Dataran Merdeka. However, the actual number may well be swelled by curious onlookers or those out to have some fun.
AI created videos of people travelling to and attending the rally, which has yet to take place. These videos have gone viral, and many more videos would follow suit during and after the rally.
Just like many fake videos in the past, many viewers would swallow them hook, line and sinker.
Similarly, most people accept misinformation and disinformation as truth without realising that statements made by the same politicians often contradict, depending on whether they are in the government or opposition, to retain or gain power for themselves, not the interest of the rakyat.
The fact is, there will be little change in our country, regardless of which block of parties are in the government. Many have resigned to the fact that we will be choosing the lesser of two evils come election day.
Only the blind and ignorant, and staunch party supporters hoping for handouts, will continue to show support for their leaders, and will try to bring others down, including the sitting prime minister, but could not name a more capable replacement.
The turnout for this Saturday’s rally could be small, medium or large. If confined to ardent protestors, the number may be insignificant. But it could be swelled by paid protestors or curious onlookers, including foreign and domestic visitors attracted to historic sites around the area.
Even if the number is large, made possible by great logistics, it will be a short-lived victory for the organisers and protestors.
The other camp is not going to take it lying down and is likely to organise a mammoth pro-Anwar rally to show who is more popular in a game of one-upmanship.
If so, this Saturday’s rally would not only be an exercise in futility, but could also make Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim more popular than what he is today. As usual, rhetoric may impress the naive, but is more like hot air. 
YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT. 
- Focus Malaysia.

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