Malaysians gathered in front of the Lot 10 shopping mall in Bukit Bintang last night in solidarity and support for Hong Kong’s Occupy Central protesters fighting for democracy.
 
The participants, numbering about 100, wore black with candles in hand and condemned the Hong Kong police for their excessive violence in handling protesters.
 
They also repeatedly sang the song “Do you hear the people sing?” in Chinese, Malay and English.
 
The song of the former Hong Kong rock band Beyond, 'Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies' was also sung, a song that has become synonymous with the protesters.

No support for the undemocratic

 

This rally for 'Hong Kong Occupy Central With Love and Peace' was organised by 32 local civil society groups.
 
Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) human rights chairperson Liau Kok Fah said the gathering was to show support for the Hong Kong protesters in demanding democratic elections.
 
“The Hong Kong government needs to heed the demand of the people,” he said.
 
Bersih Mama also condemned the Hong Kong police for using the tear gas to disperse the protesters and said that they feel the pain of the Hong Kong people as it was similar to what Malaysians have been experiencing before - in the 2008 and 2012 Bersih rallies. 
 
DAP’s Hew Kuan Yau also attended the gathering and he called on the people to learn from the Hong Kong Occupy Central in demanding a society that is democratic.
 
A number of Hong Kong tourists passing by also gave their support to the rally, expressing their gratitude to the Malaysian people for their support.
 
Hong Kong in recent days have seen tens of thousands of activists and students taking to the streets under the banner of Hong Kong Occupy Central to protest Beijing’s ruling that all candidates for the city’s chief executive post must first be vetted by a committee perceived as curated under the Communist Party of China. 
 
Beijing had earlier promised to let Hong Kong residents choose their own leader by 2017.