Save Malaysia youths launch ‘Ribbon Movement’ after HK’s ‘Umbrella Revolution’

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Youths from the Save Malaysia anti-government movement launched today a “Ribbon Movement”, taking a leaf from Hong Kong’s “Umbrella Revolution”.

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, a spokesman from Save Malaysia’s youth secretariat, said the ribbon campaign was aimed at raising awareness about the movement’s Citizens’ Declaration that calls for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation.

“For example, it could be Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. So they [used] yellow umbrellas, obviously they are on the streets.

“What we are doing is you don’t have to be on the streets, it’s an act of visual disobedience to spread the message that we people of Malaysia are united and all of us can partake in a change-making process by doing the smallest of things, like tying a ribbon to the biggest of things,” he said when met by Malay Mail Online here.

Syed Saddiq said the “Ribbon Movement” urged Malaysians to tie ribbons in any of the four colours of the Malaysian flag — blue, yellow, white or red — at any public place, including lampposts and benches.

The 2014 Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution, also known as the Umbrella Movement, saw umbrellas brandished at street protests where hundreds of thousands demanded for electoral and democratic reforms.

“When we tie the ribbons in the colours of the Malaysian flag, it shows that we are tying the unity among us together to save Malaysia from those who want to destroy our beloved country,” Syed Saddiq told reporters earlier, adding that other politicians like former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad are expected to join the “inclusive” Ribbon Movement.

Syed Saddiq said the youth secretariat that he is part of has the same cause and objective as Save Malaysia’s existing secretariat, but the former was aimed specifically at mobilising the youth.

PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin, another coordinator involved in the youth secretariat, said it “complements” the efforts by the existing secretariat.

“Because you need the youth also to appeal to the youth. I think you heard in the speeches, there’s no point just leaving it to the former leaders to take up the campaign. I think the youths also have an active role to play,” he told reporters.

The Save Malaysia’s youth secretariat will be touring the country to hold town hall sessions, with the first one to be held in Penang on April 12 which will feature Syed Saddiq among its speakers, Dr Afif said.

Earlier during the youth secretariat’s event where more people signed the Citizens’ Declaration, several youth leaders said that Save Malaysia’s cause should not be shouldered by the more senior political leaders, or by a “91-year-old”, alluding to Dr Mahathir.

Syed Saddiq told reporters that the Save Malaysia movement has garnered support from diverse groups, including celebrities, Perkasa, Pembina and young imams.“We want to ensure we democratise this movement and make it youth-friendly. I think it’s crucial because this is the time for us to push for our future. We should not sit idly; this is our time,” he said.

The Save Malaysia movement launched the Citizens’ Declaration on March 4, seeking both institutional reforms and the prime minister’s removal through non-violent and legal means. MALAY  MAIL  ONLINE