KOTA KINABALU, April 22 (Bernama) - The people have been urged not to ape western culture of protest as it is not good for Malaysian society.

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said they must be wise in evaluating and using correct channels based on the law to preserve the country's good name.

"Evaluate whether the culture (protest) is beneficial to our people or not. I think the government is providing a lot of avenues," he said when met after opening the Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF) Entrepreneur Symposium with cooperation of Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PNB) to mark Unit Trust Week 2012 at Likas Sport Complex, here today.

He was commenting on action by a group of students who camped at Dataran Merdeka for over one week demanding the government to write off loans given by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

Asked whether it is the opposition agenda to smear the country, Anifah said: I'm not shocked as the opposition created the issue to attract foreign attention.

"We know that opposition leaders have ties NGOs and other bodies and are out to discredit the government."

He said that organising programmes that are against the Malaysian way of life and teachings of Islam in this country is prohibited.