Editor’s Note: “You make your arwah (late) daddy proud. Articulate and spot on” sums up the accolades received by Raja Sara Petra, the daughter of the late self-exiled blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) who breathed his last on Sept 9 last year in Manchester, UK.
This piece of poetic justice will tell if her late father’s political prowess has rubbed off on Raja Sara.
FOR the longest time, people complained:
“Pembangkang tiada taring” (literally, “The opposition is fang-less”)
“Mana suara pembangkang?” (“Where is the voice of the opposition?”
“Semua diam macam takde substance.” (“All are quiet as if without substance”)
But today?
We saw something else.
A sea of Malaysians Chinese, Malay, Indians, Pakcik & Makcik, Youths, T20s in designer shades & sneakers all walking the same jalan (route), chanting the same call:
“Turun Anwar.”
Suddenly, the so-called “weak” opposition managed to mobilise not just party members but ordinary rakyat. From B40 to M40 and even T20.
And if anyone deserves credit for this powerful show of unity?
It’s Anwar Ibrahim himself.
Because Nothing Unites A Country Like Shared Disappointment
You see, while the opposition made this rally happen, it was Anwar who orchestrated the anger.
The man who used to lead demos is now the reason they exist.
The reformasi veteran has come full circle.
From marching on the street … to being the one people march against.
Anwar Knows This Game Too Well
So how did the government respond?
No official road closures.
But roadblocks were everywhere.
Cars searched in detailed. Some even told to turn back.
Strategic enough to avoid headlines,
but disruptive enough to kill momentum.
Classic political counter-programming:
Keep the roads open … but jammed.
So protestors get scattered.
So the aerial photos won’t look too “dangerous.”
So they can say:
“Oh, turnout? 10,000 je …”
Sure, if you crop the picture tight enough.
But everyone on the ground saw the truth.
The chants echoed from Sogo, Pasar Seni, Masjid Negara, Kampung Baru all the way to Dataran Merdeka.
Umbrellas opened, people stood in the rain not for RM100 but for dignity.
This Is Bigger Than Politics
This wasn’t just a PAS or Perikatan Nasional (PN) rally.
It was the rakyat speaking.
Families brought their teens like it was a weekend outing.
You had Chinese aunties and uncle walking hand-in-hand
Malays from kampung and bandar.
Indians.
students.
T20s with B40s. Everyone.
And yes, some even came to fight for Najib and these weren’t even UMNO people.
You want to talk about irony?
The man you replaced is now becoming a symbol of what you promised and failed to be.
This Is Bigger Than Politics
It was about the rakyat delivering a message.
It was about Malaysians from all walks of life
Fed up. Let down. And finally speaking up.
You had B40s who can’t afford eggs.
M40s whose pay hasn’t moved.
T20s questioning why they’re being taxed more.
All walking together.
So to those who said Malaysia is too divided?
Look again.
We were just waiting for the right reason.
So thank you, Anwar.
You’ve done what no PM has done in years:
You made Malaysians stand together.
Not for you.
But against you.
And that, ironically, might just be your legacy. – July 28, 2025
Raja Sara Petra – daughter of the late controversial political blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) – is the Batu UMNO Puteri wing EXCO member. Her thoughts first appeared on her Facebook page on July 27, 2025.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Sara Petra/Facebook; other images are from multiple sources
