Three demonstrations were held simultaneously today in Ipoh, Kulim and Kuala Lumpur, to express dissatisfaction over the government-hired consultancy agency Apco Worldwide.

In Ipoh, Perak PAS Youth Wing demanded the Umno-BN government eturn the RM77 million paid to Apco Worldwide and use it for projects to benefit all Malaysians.

NONE In making the call, state party information chief Mohd Akmal Kamuruddin said the money should be redeemed by Premier Najib Abdul Razak from his own pocket.

Akmal told Malaysiakini that the RM77 million spent on glorifying Najib to the world could have been put to better use by building houses, supplying piped water and electricity to thousands of poor Malaysians.

He alleged that government’s involvement with Apco Worldwide and Asiasoft is treacherous to Islam and Muslim countries as Israel is the number one enemy of Muslims.

Several of Apco’s directors are Israelis said to have links with Israel’s intelligence department.

Asiasoft which is also alleged to have links with Israel and had been awarded a contract to set up an information system for the police, also came under fire.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had acknowledged the contract but clarified that it had cancelled.

NONE PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim had exposed these two BN deals with Apco and Asiasoft in Parliament recently.

Akmal was one of the several speakers at a Perak Pakatan Rakyat Youth demonstration against the Umno-BN government deals with the two companies.

The demonstration was held after Friday prayers inside the compound of Masjid Negeri in Ipoh at 2pm and attracted a crowd of about 500.

The speakers used a mini-lorry as a platform to voice their anger against the ruling government under the watchful eyes of police and special branch officers.

NONE Shouts of “down with Umno and Israel and long live Islam” were heard echoing among the speakers and the angry crowd.

The 20 minute protest was followed by the throwing of seven rotten eggs on a plywood board showing 1Israel and 1Malaysia logos on each end with an Umno logo inserted inside a Israel five-star logo.

Later the board was thrown to the ground for the crowd to stomp on as they made their way out of the mosque.

 200 chanting in KL

In Kuala Lumpur, approximately 200 people chanted “withdraw Apco” and “destroy Israel” along the mosque after the Friday prayers at Masjid Kampung Baru.

 

This demonstators carried banners saying “terminate Apco” and “get lost Israel”.

The crowd dispersed peacefully at 2.15 pm.

Meanwhile in Pekan Kulim Bandar Baru, 200 people gathered outside a mosque after the Friday prayers.

 

This demonstration was led by The Kulim Bandar-Baru chief youth Mohamad Khairi Saleh and Padang Serai chief youth Abu Tolib Yahaya

 

This was a peaceful demonstration and lasted for only 15 minutes and the police did not really interfere as it fizzled out due to rain.

 

Pas members also distributed 1000 flyers to the public.

After the demonstration, the duo lodged a police report and demanded the government to probe into this issue.

Additional reports by Goh Seng Ching and Hashini Kavishtri K.