Despite the scorching heat, more than 2,000 people thronged the streets from the Sogo shopping complex to Dataran Merdeka, participating in the anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) rally.

The rally, which also demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, witnessed a carnival-like atmosphere, with people mostly in black T-shirts walking along carrying placards showcasing their disagreement against the taxation system and the premier.

Stalls selling anti-GST and ‘Undur Najib’ merchandise lined the streets, with some also taking the opportunity to sell bottled water and snacks.

Chanting slogans like ‘ Mansuh GST’ and even ‘Najib pui!’, the rally also took a different direction with chants of ‘ Bebas Anwar ’ and ‘Reformasi’ amidst the blare of vuvuzelas.

Rally-goers are currently milling in front of Dataran Merdeka as access to it has been blocked by police.

Interestingly, the rally today comprised mostly Malay participants.

This is a direct contrast to the Bersih 4 rally last year which saw a more significant Chinese turnout, sparking the red-shirt Malay counter rally held a few weeks later.

'Gather weekly against PM'

Like normal rallies organised by the opposition, the event today saw Pakatan Harapan leaders making speeches mainly urging for Najib's resignation and slamming the GST, which yesterday marks one year into its implementation.

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli in his speech again urged the people to gather every week to demand for Najib's resignation.

"If we do this, he will resign. No matter how strong the government is, it will ultimately fall."

Thanking the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers, Rafizi said he was confident that they, too, deep in their hearts, want Najib to resign.

Meanwhile, Rafizi said should they manage to make Najib resign, they will ensure that former Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan as well as others close to Najib apologise to the rakyat.

"There is now a momentum, maybe some are not with us today, but I'm confident that we can gather half a million people three months from now," he said.

“We will remove one by one of those who makan dedak (eat animal feed) until the only ones left will be Najib and (his wife) Rosmah (Mansor).”

Surprise appearance

Meanwhile, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu who was initially slated to be the last speaker, in his trademark joke-making style, chanted “Najib rasuah, polis susah, kami susah’.

The former PAS leader also affirmed that more gatherings will be held in the future.

“We will come in the millions if Najib does not resign!” he thundered.

He later announced the arrival of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who made a surprise appearance at the rally.

After Mahathir’s speech, the rally came to end at 5.30pm after a prayer recitation.

Also present today were DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR vice-president Tian Chua, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad, former Perak menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin and former student leader Fahmi Zainol, among others.

Thankfully, no untoward incident occurred and the some 100 police and DBKL personnel dispersed around 6pm.

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