Kuala Lumpur: What started as a protest against the planned Urban Renewal Act (URA) quickly shifted to a rally at Dataran Merdeka demanding for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister.
According to the organisers, PAS Youth, 300,000 participants are expected today, but police estimates put it at 10,000 to 15,000.
Stay tuned as FMT’s Afizi Ismail, Andrea Edmonds, Anne Muhammad, Hizami Safri, Moganraj Villavan, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar and Yee Suet Mun bring you live coverage of the protest.
2.06pm – Tian Chua skipping rally
Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua said he will not be attending today’s rally, although he was slated to speak at Dataran Merdeka around 3.15pm based on a schedule sent by organisers.
“I’m not going to the rally although the organiser sent me an invitation,” he told FMT.
1.45pm – Gerakan leader addresses crowd in Mandarin
At Dataran Merdeka, a rather amusing scene cropped up as a Gerakan leader started addressing the crowd, who are mostly Malay, in Mandarin.
Malaysiakini reported that the protesters were in the dark as to what he was saying in his speech, but still shouted in support while all smiles.
1.38pm – Over 3,500 protesters at Sogo
Policemen estimate that over 3,500 protesters are gathered at Sogo, though rally-goers claim that there are nearly 10,000 of them.
They will begin moving towards Dataran Merdeka at about 2.30pm.
1.37pm – PN has capable leaders
Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said no prime minister is “irreplaceable”.
He claimed that Perikatan Nasional, the coalition his party is a component of, has capable leaders, but did not name anyone in particular.
1.32pm – From Bersih to ‘Turun Anwar’ with kids in tow
Zulaikha Zaidi, 29, from Muar, Johor, had brought her three children, aged four, eight and 11, to the rally but said this was not her first time bringing her child to such an assembly.
She said she had also attended the Bersih 5 rally in 2016 with her eldest child, who was a year and a half at the time.
Zulaikha acknowledged that the law did not allow parents to bring children under the age of 15 to rallies, but said this was to give them “experience”.
She said she had no one else who could look after them while she was at the rally.
1.25 pm – Organisers had no permission to set up stage at Dataran Merdeka
Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said the rally’s organisers did not apply for any permit to set up a temporary stage at Dataran Merdeka. The stage has since been removed by DBKL.
He said there were safety concerns over the stage’s structure, adding that there was no indication as to how many people would be on the stage at any one time.
“The earlier agreement between the police and the organisers was that two Toyota Hiluxes would be used as a ‘stage’,” he said in a brief statement to the media.
1.10pm – Business opportunities at rally
Under the scorching sun near Sogo, a group of teenagers found a way to show support and make some pocket money by selling cold drinks.
The three friends, all aged about 17, set up a roadside stall with nine large jars of different beverages, selling the drinks at RM5 a cup.
“It’s really hot today, so we thought people would definitely want a cold drink,” said one of the teenagers, known only as Aidil.
Another group of friends – four to five men in their 40s – took the opportunity to sell t-shirts and headbands at RM20 and RM5, respectively.
One of them, who introduced himself simply as AG, said they were here to “do business and call for the prime minister to step down”.
12.58pm – I wasn’t invited, says Anwar
Met at an event in Putrajaya, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim quipped that he will not be attending today’s rally as he was not invited by the organisers.
“I wasn’t invited,” he said briefly when asked by reporters.
12:55pm – Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan addresses crowd at Sogo
Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan reminded the protesters of their right to assemble and to free speech, which was guaranteed under the Peaceful Assembly Act and the Federal Constitution.
Takiyuddin, who is the PAS secretary-general, also reassured the crowd at Sogo that today’s assembly was legitimate as they had informed the authorities about the gathering much earlier.
He thanked the police for facilitating the rally and for keeping the peace.
Takiyuddin also called on the protesters to make citizen arrests if they come across those who incite violence and hand them over to the police.
“We need to ensure that the rally does not breach any law or violate the constitution,” he said.
12.54pm – Masjid Jamek protesters start marching to Dataran
Protesters gather outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad have started marching to Dataran Merdeka, while those at Sogo are expected to start moving at about 2pm.
12.46pm – Family on holiday turns up for rally
Met at the rally, Mohamad Zaini from Kedah said he and his family were supposed to be in KL for a short holiday and to attend his wife’s convocation ceremony.
“It so happened that the rally is taking place while we are in town, so we decided to come and support,” said Mohamad, who was accompanied by his wife and their two children, aged 10 and eight.
12.42pm – Over 2,000 gather at Masjid Jamek
More than 2,000 protesters have gathered outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, according to estimates by policemen.
During the speeches, one protester on a megaphone said they were there “not to terrorise anyone but for the rakyat’s voice to be heard”, drawing cheers from other rally-goers.
12.12pm – ‘Hidup Rakyat’, ‘Turun Anwar’ chants ring out
Chants of “Hidup Rakyat” and “Turun Anwar” have started ringing out from Sogo and Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad. The protesters were informed that they will start marching to Dataran Merdeka at 1pm.
Using a megaphone, one protester said they were all gathering “from Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak to call for Anwar to step down”.
Attendees were spotted wearing black t-shirts listing various grievances with the government, including the expanded sales and service tax, the URA, and the apparent lack of reforms implemented by the government.
11:55am – Crowd continues to swell
The number of participants gathered continues to swell, with about 1,000 now gathered outside Sogo. The atmosphere remains lively, with traders selling “Turun Anwar” merchandise like headbands, t-shirts, fans and stickers.
Some protesters were seen with their children in tow too. The Peaceful Assembly Act prohibits bringing a child to protests.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was spotted outside Sogo briefing the party’s volunteer corps, Unit Amal, which has been tasked with crowd control for the rally.
At Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, more than 300 people have gathered. One participant who resides in Bangsar said the reason he was participating in the rally was to show the government that it “cannot just do whatever it likes”.
“They made a lot of promises before this but they have not been fulfilled,” he said.
11.45am – DBKL seizes stage meant for rally
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has confiscated a stage and equipment that were set up at Dataran Merdeka this morning for the rally.
In a Facebook post, PAS member Nurul Islam Yusoff criticised the authorities, saying party workers had started setting up the stage at 3am.
PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden claimed the authorities had agreed to allow them to set up the stage yesterday.
11am – Hundreds gather at 5 meeting points
Hundreds of rally-goers have started to gather at five meeting points around the city centre, namely Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex.
The atmosphere at Sogo is more lively but there are fewer protesters outside Masjid Negara.
PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah was among those spotted at the rally so far.
