Dr M urges public to sign Citizen’s Declaration
THE STAR
Standing guard: Officers of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall guardingthe primary barrier preventing Anti-GST 2016 rally demonstrators from entering Dataran Merdeka. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad joined in at the end of the anti-GST rally and urged the public to sign the Citizen’s Declaration as a means to voice their grouses to the Rulers.
Dr Mahathir said although it was not in the Constitution, the support of the people had to be taken into account.
“Without the rakyat, there would be no Rulers,” he told a crowd gathered in Jalan Raja for the 2016 Anti-GST rally, organised by Pakatan Harapan, here yesterday.
He spoke as the rally was about to wind down in the late evening.
Dr Mahathir said the gathering was important to remind the Government on the people’s grouses against the GST.
“The low income earners are feeling the pinch. I told him (Najib) not to implement the GST but he ignored my plea.”
Dr Mahathir said now, Malaysia Airlines and Petronas were laying off staff by the thousands.
“Even I was not spared,” the former premier quipped.
Earlier, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu said they would continue to organise more rallies in the future.
“We will gather in large numbers so that it will be difficult for Barisan Nasional in the next election,” he said in his speech.
The crowd braved the heat to join the rally yesterday, gathering at multiple locations around here and culminated in a march down Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman towards Dataran Merdeka.
They chanted slogans, sang political songs and held up placards as the organisers called out to supporters through a loudspeaker on a truck.
As police had barricaded the square, several Opposition leaders took turns to deliver their speeches in Jalan Raja.
City police chief Comm Datuk Amar Singh said the rally ended at 5.30pm without any incident.
“Action will still be taken against anyone who breaches the laws stipulated in the Peaceful Assembly Act and other laws,” he said.
