Umno Baru division leader Jamal Md Yunos is itching for a head-on collision with the gathering mooted by Bersih 2.0, following the announcement by the American Department of Justice (DOJ) about 1MDB. He has urged Malaysians to hit the streets and defend their government, just like the Turkish people defended President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan’s alleged abuse of power, profligacy, and highly-rewarded family members and cronies are well-known, but has the red shirt leader ignored the other aspects of Erdogan’s rule?

Strategic ally. Like Turkey, the west treats Malaysia with kid gloves. Malaysia, with its supposed moderate version of Islam, is critical in the west’s dealings with more intolerant Muslim nations like Iran. Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, whilst our location in the Straits of Malacca puts us in an ideal location to deal with China, which is flexing its muscles economically, politically and on the high seas.

As it wants to be our friend, the west tends to close one eye to our human rights abuses and growing strains of extremism.

Divisive tendency. Erdogan is a controversial and divisive figure who identifies with the rural and working class voters. The same applies in Malaysia, where the ruling party and its leaders know how to milk the rural voters but are less acceptable with urban voters, who are better educated and aware of Umno Baru’s dirty tactics, with which it dominates Malaysian politics. Malaysian political leaders are just as divisive as Erdogan.

Secularism vs conservative Islam. Under Erdogan, and his Justice and Development party (AKP), the shift is towards a more intolerant brand of Islam which is at odds with the secular ideals, which the military claims it has sworn to protect. Both Malaysian and Turkish women are seeing their influence wane, intolerance is on the rise and few dare to defend secularism in Malaysia, because the red shirts and conservative Muslims threaten more violence.

Promise of violence. During the attempted coup, soldiers were killed or beaten up amid shouts of “God is great”. They waved Turkish flags and the green flags of Islam, amid reports that the mob demanded executions. Red shirt leader Jamal has promised to paint Kuala Lumpur red. Is he threatening another May 13, or will there be a U-turn, just like the Pahang mufti who claimed that he meant that the ‘kafir harbi’ should be slain with words, not weapons?

Democracy vs authoritarianism. A coup is not the way to reform a nation, and was quashed quickly. Some people allege that the coup was sprung hurriedly, because Erdogan’s opponents were aware that he was going to purge Turkey of his dissenters.

Obsession with old foes. Erdogan has blamed his former ally, Fethullah Gülen, a Muslim cleric exiled in America, for the failed coup. He has requested that Gülen be extradited to Turkey. Similarly, the leaders in Umno Baru have often blamed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for things going wrong in Malaysia, despite Anwar being locked up safely in Sungei Buloh prison.

Will the NSC be used to purge opponents?

Elected government vs dictatorship. Erdogan has imposed a three-month state of emergency to purge those responsible for planning the failed coup. Will the rushed Malaysian National Security Council (NSC) Act be used to purge opponents of Umno Baru?

Painful reminder of our own past. Erdogan’s purge has resulted in the arrest or sacking of 10,000 police officers, 3,000 judges and prosecutors, 15,000 educationists, and all the university deans, in Turkey. Recent harassment of Malaysian critics reminds us of Operation Lalang, and an autocrat who fears for his rule.

Power of sermons. At the funeral of a coup protester, The Guardian newspaper reported that the crowd roared when the imam who led the prayers said, “Protect us, lord, from all malice, especially that of the educated.” This is no different from Malaysia, where Friday sermons are used to spread government propaganda.

Replacing one bad with another. The Turkish coup saw many deaths and beatings, and the aftermath resulted in the installation of a police state. We have a semblance of a police state in Malaysia, but how will the police deal with Jamal and will they allow the Malaysian situation to deteriorate further?

It is not democracy that Jamal will defend when he urges Malaysians to protest.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.