Video: fzcomvideos / YouTube
Despite the usual difficulty with police over permission and legality, thousands took to historic Dataran Merdeka yesterday afternoon to take part in the May Day Anti-GST Rally to protest the looming introduction of the unpopular Goods and Services Tax (GST) next April.
Estimates of the crowd in attendance varies – although the PDRM initially expected around 15,000 to turn up at Dataran Merdeka at the appointed 2pm starting time, between 40,000 to 50,000 – mostly dressed in red – could be seen participating in the rally.
The rally was organised by a coalition of 89 disparate groups, including workers’ rights initiative Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), with the aim of “liberating the Malaysian people from the oppressive GST tax”. The rally was also heavily supported by the federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, who have also been conducting their own anti-GST campaign over the past few months.
Unusually for a demonstration of this kind, the PDRM decided not to position its Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) riot police squads around the demonstration area, or to harass the demonstrators with water cannons or tear gas. In fact, PDRM traffic units were on the ground to manage the flow of vehicles along the march routes from KLCC, Dataran Maybank and the National Mosque, allowing protestors safe passage.
Photos: Justin Ng / Flickr
