Police upset over acts of vandalism, provocation during May Day rally
Published: 1 May 2015 8:43 PM
Protesters gather in front of the Petronas Twin Towers during a May Day protest against the goods and services tax (GST). Police say participants damaged public property and attempted to provoke policemen on duty. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, May 1, 2015.Police said the force was disappointed over incidents of vandalism and provocation that flared during a mostly peaceful May Day rally today opposing the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST).
It highlighted the matter on the Polis Diraja Malaysia Facebook page, saying that the rally, which drew a crowd of 10,000, was not fully under control.
Titled "Demo #BantahGST: Inikah yang ingin ditonjolkan?" (#BantahGST demo: Is this what was intended to be portrayed?), the posting also attached 14 photographs depicting protesters engaging in various acts such as vandalising advertisement boards and zinc walls, and throwing smoke bombs.
Police said that apart from damaging public property, protesters had also brought children to the rally while others even tried to provoke the policemen on duty.
"They have ignored the voice of the majority who were disturbed by street demonstration that not only causes traffic congestion but also unruly situation for the traders," it said.
Thousands came today to the six meeting points and marched together for about 3km to converge at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
The Workers Day rally, which started at 2.30pm, was backed by Bersih 2.0, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as the opposition.
Police earlier gave the green light for the rally against the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) to be held at Padang Merbok and warned that action would be taken if it were held elsewhere.
It was previously reported that the #KitaLawan movement would again take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur on May 1, adding the GST to their list of causes.
The movement's secretariat said the consumption tax should open people's eyes to how oppressive the tax was on low-wage earners and the jobless. – May 1, 2015.
.jpg)
