COMMENT | Yesterday, thousands gathered in downtown Kuala Lumpur for the “Turun Anwar” protest, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The rally, driven by PAS Youth and endorsed by leaders of the Perikatan Nasional coalition, cited the rising cost of living and Anwar’s failure to fulfil reform promises.

Yet, beyond the spectacle of slogans and street presence, the event revealed a deeper tension in Malaysia’s protest culture: the evolving role of ideology in shaping who protests, how, and for what purpose.

In a country where protest has long carried both democratic aspirations and political risks, the rally marks a critical moment. Not because protest is new, but because its meaning is increasingly contested, shaped not only by grievance but...