Gender rights group Seksualiti Merdeka has denied any involvement in the anti-price hike rally organised by NGOs on New Year’s Eve.

The group's co-founder Pang Khee Theik dismissed a SMS that was circulating allegedly claiming that Seksualiti Merdeka is also mobilising people to be part of the Turun rally.

The SMS identified the sender's phone as belonging to Suaram coordinator Ahmad Syukri Ab Razab, who told a press conference before the rally that his number has been hijacked to send out the SMSes.

“To be clear, Seksualiti Merdeka was not involved with Turun, is not a member of the organising coalition, and did not send out such a message.

"Furthermore, Seksualiti Merdeka is non-partisan and is neither affiliated with BN nor Pakatan. This SMS was clearly fabricated,” said Pang ( left ) in a statement today.

He was referring to the contents of the SMS that called for support for the opposition coalition.

"For our right as a free men and women, to love as gay people - show our support to Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat by attending #RPDM31D@Dataran Merdeka - Sexuality Merdeka," read the message.

Pang said the person or group who had sent out the SMSes were probably hoping to falsely associate Turun with Seksualiti Merdeka in an attempt to dissuade people from joining the rally.

“But in the end, we believe many Malaysians are mature enough to recognise a falsehood to ignore such claims, and to realise that present economic realities require that we all come together to work together towards a better future for all,” Pang said.

SMS warfare against Turun

The days leading up to the rally saw a number of fake SMSes circulated apparently to deter participation in the rally.

Apart from the SMS linking the anti-price hike rally to the lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual movement (LGBT), there was also a SMS that falsely claimed that LRT stations will be closed early at 6pm on that day.

Earlier, an unverified individual posted online claiming that the rally was being done to “topple the government”, and this had led to the arrest of Turun chief Azan Safar (left, with microphone ) and fuelled police allegations that the rally organisers were planning bombs and weapons.

During the rally Teja assemblyperson also tweeted that a purportedly false SMS was circulating at around 10pm calling of protestors to breach the police barricade to the padang at 11pm.

" Salam tuan tuan, jam 11 tepat kita rempuh masuk dataran. Hambat polis-polis tu... tunjukkan kuasa rakyat. (Greetings, at 11pm sharp lets barge into the dataran. Chase away the police, show them the power of the people)" read the SMS according to Chang.

The PKR rep called the SMS "irresponsible" and "malicious".

Capping the cybercampaign against the rally that proceeded without any major incidents,  a tweet purportedly by artiste Najwa Latif claimed on the night that protestors allegedly “molested” women at the New Year’s Eve concert, although this allegation has also not been verified.

Meanwhile according to Sinar Harian Online today the teen singer has denied sending the tweet alleging it is the work of parties out to tarnish her reputation.

The rally, that saw at least 10,000 , some claim up to 50,000, turn up at Dataran Merdeka to protest a deluge of price hikes since the May 5 general election, has been declared a success by its organisers.