Approximately 2,000 workers took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur today keeping to the tradition of Labour Day celebrations, the 120th held worldwide.

Organised by a coalition of groups called the May Day Committee, the march began at the symbolic Dataran Merdeka at 10am. The march is the 13th of its kind ever held in the country.

After criss-crossing through the city centre, the crowd later regrouped at the KLCC park, against the backdrop of Malaysia's economic symbol - Petronas Twin Towers.

This year's event was themed, "Workers against privatisation of water and hospitals". The event was peaceful, but had a noisy carnival-like atmosphere, as pro-worker slogans were frequently chanted.

Police presence was minimal throughout the proceedings, although riot police and a water canon truck was stationed not far away from the area. No untoward incidents were reported.

Fuel hike

V Nathan (left), who represented factory workers said that while fuel prices had gone up several times in recent months, the wages and bonuses received by workers remained the same.

"Some factories even used the fuel price hike to justify their decision to terminate the workers' annual increment," said Nathan's in his emotionally charged speech.

While thanking yet-to-be-registered Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) for their contributions to farmers plight, Ipoh-based farmer Lai Ah Lek (right) urged other workers to struggle in upholding their rights.

"I was forcefully evicted from my farm land when the government wanted the land for development. I decided not to move, but stay and struggle for my rights," he told the crowd, and was met with cries of solidarity.

Peaceful march

When approached by malaysiakini , Prema, a first-time participant said she was perturbed by the ever increasing price of essential goods, and wants to voice her concerns to the government.

When asked, Prema said she was not afraid of the police over looking the proceedings.

"I'm not doing anything wrong, why should I be afraid?" she said with a smile.

The police allegedly used excessive means to disperse the crowd during a similar Labour Day march last year.

Speaking to reporters later, PSM pro tem secretary-general S Arutchelvan said that a permit for the gathering had been issued by the Dang Wangi district police station.

"They didn't agree to us having the march, but we argued that it was traditional to do so. Again, we have shown today that we can hold a march peacefully," said Arutchelvan, who is also a member of the organising committee.

Declaration

Asked why no politicians were invited to address the crowd, he said that the organising committee had been consistent with such a policy over the years.

"Labour Day is the time when the politicians have to listen to what the workers have to say," he added.

The gathering ended with the crowd reading their Labour Day declaration en masse, which among others, sought for preservation of Orang Asli rights, the tabling of the Minimum Wage Act, laws for the automatic formation of unions and equal rights for migrant workers.

The declaration was endorsed by 72 groups nationwide including opposition parties, student, religious, women's rights, consumer and human rights groups.

The May Day committee itself is made up of labour rights group Jerit, opposition groups PSM and Parti Rakyat Malaysia, Food not Bombs, student group Dema, Community Development Centre, Alaigal, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and human rights group Suaram.

Four held

Meanwhile, in Seremban, four individuals were arrested during a Labour Day gathering there today, said Suaram in a statement this evening.

Its executive director Yap Swee Seng said the four were Keadilan deputy information chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin and three others, Ramlan Roes, Amirudin Wahab and N Azizi.

"The Kuala Lumpur May Day rally today, which was participated by about 1,000 people, was allowed by the police and had proceeded peacefully. Suaram sees no reason why the police should stop the peaceful gathering in Seremban and arrest the four persons," said Yap.

He called on the police to release the four immediately adding it would be 'another abuse of power if the police decide to keep them overnight in the police lock-up or remand them tomorrow'.

Seremban police chief Hasanuddin Hassan could not be reached for comment.