The National Professors Council (MPN) today described the Bersih 5 rally, planned to be held tomorrow as a gathering that could bring disaster to the country and must be rejected by the people.

Its chairman Prof Tan Sri Dr Zakri Hamid said the people should put more effort and use their wisdom to help restore the country's economy to face the challenging global economic uncertainty.

"The rally (Bersih 5) does not bring any benefit to the people and the country," he told a press conference today in conjunction with the MPN Coordination Meeting which was attended by about 70 of the council members here.

He said the country had its own electoral system and a government that gave freedom for the people to express their views without having to join street demonstrations.

"(Street demonstrations) bring more disadvantages than benefits. Although there have been Bersih 1, 2, 3, 4 rally before, and now Bersih 5, we don't see them (Bersih rallies) can change anything in this country," he said. -- Bernama