The group was small but their voices were loud as women activists in purple from various organisations and political parties protested against “Toxic Politics” at the Esplanade, Penang today.

Cars honked as they passed by while the women carried placards shouting slogans like “No violence, no racism” and “They can’t kill your dreams, so they assassinate your character”.

Today's event was held simultaneously with the one in Kuala Lumpur, where some 1,000 people turned-up at the rally attended by the fourth prime minister's wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and her daughter Marina Mahathir, former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, G25’s Noor Faridah Arifin and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

In Penang, where some 50 people gathered, Women's Crisis Centre president Mariam Lim said although the country had celebrated Merdeka for 60 years, women's rights and issues have regressed.

"We are unrepresented in all levels of decision making, including Parliament, whereas we are 50 percent of the population in the country, more women go to university than men, but what has happened to our voice?" she asked.

"This is the time for us to wake up and speak up, make sure we are properly represented and our rights, protected.

"Not only must women come forward, we might also be threatened, so we must get our men, husbands, brothers and fathers to come forward because women's rights are human rights, and all men have mothers, sisters, daughters and they must get interested in these issues," she said.

"In our country, the enemy is patriarchy... we must recognise patriarchy for what it is and combat it," she added

DAP Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Lim Siew Khim said getting rid of toxic politics is the responsibility of all, men and women, from all levels of society.

“We are here to struggle for clean politics, let us all express our protest against dirty and toxic politics.

"We are doing it for our future generation, don’t threaten women, women gave birth to you, so say no and reject dirty politics," she said.

Penang Amanah Wanita chief Aida Yusof Rawa said dirty and toxic politics come from leaders who are equally dirty and toxic.

“Let’s get rid of such leaders, lets put them down, they have brought much suffering to Malaysians.

"Let’s join hands and together we will save Malaysia from everything that is bad and dirty, let it be our legacy for our children and grandchildren.”

Batu Kawan MP Kashturi Patto said there is no short of women who are clean, courageous and has calibre but they are all victims of dirty and cheap politics, which assassinates the character of these women.

“Change and the chance to save Malaysia is in the hands of women," she said to loud cheers from her sisters in the rally.

Dubbed "Women Against Toxic Politics", the gathering targeted amongst others, political violence, threats, racism, sexism, hate speech as well as the government's alleged failure to ensure public safety and sanctity of the Federal Constitution, according to the march's promotional material.