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Street protests in Malaysia are not new. The formation of Malaya wouldn’t have taken place without the built-up pressure created by street demonstrations in large towns such as Kota Baru, Alor Setar and Johor Baru.

The Malays successfully organised a peaceful demonstration to protest against Sir Harold MacMichael’s method of acquiring the sultans’ signatures and to reject the Malayan Union proposal. The fact that our deputy prime minister admits that he was the “father of demonstrations” is indicative of Malaysia’s rich history in organising street rallies.

Some might argue that the 1950s was different as democratic channels were not yet created, thus making street protest a necessary evil. I’d firstly like to point out that we’ve had multiple protests post-independence. From the Baling hunger street protest and hunger strike to the postal service strike of 1964.

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