I blame the police. If the police are going to stand back and allow mayhem to disrupt peace every time, as they did at the traditional Dataran Merdeka New Year bash last night, I'm afraid people like me will start losing confidence in the ability of the police to stand up to "a small group" of trouble makers. I think Bukit Aman Internal Seecurity and Public Order direcetor Salleh Mat Rashid should not worry about those "pictures and videos", he should be worried of the fact that these protesters will be more emboldened by their success in "capturing" Dataran Merdeka last night despite heavy police presence.
Salleh says police will make arrests after collecting enough evidence. What's the point? Thousands of people at the Dataran were not able to count down the New Year last night simply because the police "would not be a tool to (the protesters') agenda"?
See also Two Contrasting Scenes at Dataran MerdekaSalleh says the rally was a ploy to start chaos ala Thailand and Egypt. That's not a claim to treat lightly. Thousands of people have died in violent street clashes and protests in Thailand and Egypt. If Salleh had evidence to back up this claim, then giving in to the protesters last night was an epic failure on the part of the police.