Kuala Lumpur: Police formed a human barricade along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to stop the “Turun Malaysia” protesters from marching towards Dataran Merdeka.
About 500 people had gathered at the Sogo shopping complex from 2pm to protest against the rising cost of living.
Activist Sevan Doraisamy and other protesters attempted to negotiate with the authorities to continue their march but were unsuccessful.
Protesters chanted “Hidup Rakyat” and demanded that ministers take a pay cut.
Several youth leaders from political parties, including Adam Adli (PKR Youth chief) and Amir Abd Hadi (Muda co-founder), joined in the protest and gave speeches.
Also present were International Islamic University Malaysia student union president Aliff Naif and members of various NGOs.
A protester holding a placard demanding that ministers take a pay cut.
Police had earlier blocked vehicles from entering Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in anticipation of today’s protest.
On Thursday, a group calling itself “Turun Malaysia” said it would stage a protest and called on students and other young Malaysians to gather at the shopping complex to make their voices heard over the hike in the price of goods and the rising cost of living.
Yesterday, Dang Wangi district police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said the authorities were not notified about the protest as required under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, and that action would be taken against those involved.
However, the organisers led by Selangor Amanah Youth chief Abbas Azmin, Undi18 co-founder Qyira Yusri and Universiti Malaya students’ union president Ooi Guo Shen said they would go ahead “because the right to assemble is guaranteed under the law”.
Adam told the crowd that the protest today is to “remind” the government to look into the people’s plight.
“Our demands are very clear,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amir said the people will not stay silent over the rising cost of living which is affecting them badly.
He said the protesters are also demanding for the removal of ministers who are not performing, adding that it could help the government cut down on its expenses.
The five key demands by the protesters were for ministers to take a pay cut, government subsidies to be continued, control on the price of goods, to check the issue of food security, and to provide proper assistance to the people.
The protesters started dispersing shortly after 3pm when the police barred them from marching to Dataran Merdeka.
