20,000 take part in anti-GST protest at Dataran Merdeka
Anti-GST protesters marching towards Dataran Merdeka today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 1, 2014.More than 20,000 people have gathered for the May 1 anti-GST (goods and services tax) rally in Kuala Lumpur today.
People started arriving at the four meeting points – KLCC, Sogo, Dataran Maybank and Jalan Raja Laut – before moving towards Dataran Merdeka about 2pm.
The rally is organised by a coalition of 95 NGOs.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced in his 2014 budget speech last October that the GST would take effect in April 2015.
It had sparked concerns that prices of goods would soar and add to the burden of the average Malaysian household.
The rally, coinciding with Workers Day celebrations worldwide, is themed "Anti GST – Until it is dropped" and is expected to be attended by opposition leaders, including Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Earlier, in Butterworth, Penang, some 300 people gathered for a rally organised by the state Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) to voice out issues affecting workers in various industries.
Anti-GST protesters making their way to the Sultan Abdul Samad building in Jalan Raja, adjacent to Dataran Merdeka today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, May 1, 2014.
Anti-GST protesters making their way to the Sultan Abdul Samad building in Jalan Raja, adjacent to Dataran Merdeka today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, May 1, 2014.
Demands were made urging the government to scrap the plan to introduce the GST, to give private sector workers an RM300 cost of living allowance (Cola) and to increase the minimum wage from RM900 to RM1,500, among others.
Speakers at the rally included Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, Bersih chairman (northern region) Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon and Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon.
The turnout was not as good as expected by the organiser, Penang MTUC chief S. Ravindran said, because workers feared trouble.
They were under the impression that the rally was illegal because some newspapers reported that the rally had no police permit, he said.
"That is not true. The newspapers that reported it that way did not check with us. We have a permit for this," he said.
They were initially expecting a crowd of about 5,000.
The Malaysian Insider will bring you the live updates as the May Day rally in Kuala Lumpur unfolds.
LIVE UPDATES:
3.06pm, Dataran Merdeka: Crowd from Sogo reach here. PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail says women will be hit most by GST.
2.55pm, Dataran Merdeka: PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu again reminds crowd not to enter padang.
2.34pm, KLCC: Crowd making their way towards Dataran Merdeka.
2.30pm: Crowd heading towards Dataran Merdeka, chanting "Tolak GST. Tolak Najib".
2.20pm, Sogo: Crowd prepare to move to Dataran Merdeka.
2.19pm, Sogo: PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub says protesters are here to defend the people because Umno and BN are not interested in the people.
2.10pm, Sogo: Subang MP R. Sivarasa says gathering is our right."They (BN government) want to burden the middle class and poor. Other countries tax the rich."
2.09pm, KLCC: Ex-Bersih chair Datuk S. Ambiga leads chants of "Bersih, Bersih. Hidup rakyat. Bantah GST!"
2.08pm, Sogo: Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh says people are tired. "Tolak Umno. Tolak BN". Chants of reformasi fill the air.
2.02pm, Sogo: State assemblyman for Seri Setia Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says Court of Appeal decision last week enabled the people to gather peacefully. "We want to say it clearly to the government that we reject GST," he says.
2pm, KLCC: Crowd chanting anti-GST and anti-Najib slogans. About 300 people are here.
2pm, Sogo: Speech by Mat Sabu. He warns the crowd not to step on the grass at Dataran Merdeka. Those present are chanting "Tolak GST", "Bantah, GST", "Undur Najib, letak jawatan" and "Hidup Rakyat". Bukit Katil MP Shamsul Iskandar to lead the march from here.
1.46pm, Sogo: The members of parliament from Alor Star, Wangsa Maju, Kelana Jaya and Subang are present.
1.43pm, Sogo: Retiree MAzlan Kidam, 59, says he is tired of the broken promises by the government. "Prices of things are going up and now, with the GST, our lives will be more difficult. This rally is to show the government we are not happy with the rising cost of living."
1.41pm, KLCC: The crowd is seated in front of KLCC while being entertained by an unknown singer.
1.31pm,Sogo: PKR Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen arrives. He says: "You can say whatever you want about hudud but people are more concerned about their rice bowl. GST will be a deciding factor in next GE." Some enterprising people are also selling rally items.
1.30pm, KLCC: Dark rain clouds above KLCC.
1.25pm, KLCC: Another group of SAMM members arrive and join the crowd at the KLCC entrance.
1.20pm, Sogo: About 2,000 people have gathered here, chanting anti-GST slogans.
1pm, KLCC: Around 30 undergraduates arrive at KLCC, chanting anti-Najib and anti-GST slogans. Crowd starts to build up with about 100 people already at the scene. They are mostly in red and black tee-shirts with anti-GST scarves and carrying anti-GST and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) flags. SAMM leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin, or better known as Chegubard, is expected to lead the crowd from here. He is giving instructions using a loud hailer from a four-wheel drive. The crowd is growing.
12.53pm, KLCC: Police have put up barricades in front of the Petronas Philharmonic hall to secure the area. A group of policemen are patrolling the entrance to the Petronas offices. The public are not now allowed beyond the barricade.
12.40pm: Although the crowd have started to gather at the four meeting points, the situation is calm. Traffic police are present to ensure smooth flow of traffic. – May 1, 2014.
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