Thousands of protestors are expected to stage a sit-in in the shadows of the iconic 88-story Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow against the government's recent hefty increase in fuel prices.

The organisers have vowed to proceed with the demonstration - expected to be noisy with the banging of pots and pans - despite a police warning not to go ahead.

"Our new motto is ' Protes Sampai Turun' (Protest till prices drop). We foresee a bigger crowd turning up this time," said opposition Islamic party PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa today.

Last Friday, about 2,000 irate protestors at the same venue gave the government an 'ultimatum' to reduce fuel prices within a week, failing which they will hold more protests.

They protestors have been asked to bring their pots, pans and cooking utensils to signify that the government has 'thrown sand into the people's rice bowl' with the sharp hike in fuel prices of between 18.5 and 23 percent.

The 30-minute procession last week was blacked out by the local media which has been told to play down public fury over the price hike.

Nasharuddin said expected more people to show up tomorrow. "I have heard some of our members and supporters from other states will be coming by buses at their own cost. More people know about the protest tomorrow," he said.

'Crowd was controlled'

PAS central committee member Dr Hatta Ramli said the sit-in was expected to last for at least two hours after Friday's prayers if it is not disrupted by the police.

"We hope more people, especially those who are working there, could join us after their working hours outside the Twin Towers," he said when contacted.

Tomorrow's protest sit-in is jointly organised by PAS, opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the yet-to-be registered Parti Sosialis Malaysia and several non-governmental organisations.

Dang Wangi deputy district police chief Rodzi Ismail, however, told malaysiakini that the protestors are advised not to assemble since it could be deemed as an illegal gathering.

" Kumpul tak payah (there is no need to gather), the government has given an explanation why the petrol prices are hiked," he said, adding police would monitor the protest tomorrow.

Asked whether he expected a huge crowd to turn up, he responded: "This issue (petrol price hike) involves everyone [..] it is hard to estimate but many of them could be just bystanders."

Rodzi, who led a police team to oversee last Friday's protest, pointed out that no action was taken against the protestors last week. "We gave them the chance to air their grievances. We did not take action straightaway because we want to be fair (to the demonstrators). The crowd was controlled and did not turn unruly," he said.

Asked whether the police will allow the sit-in to proceed tomorrow should the protestors control themselves, he answered: "It all depends on how the situation goes tomorrow." To another question on why a police helicopter hovered dangerously low over the protestors last Friday, Rodzi said: "We have our own reasons".

Chain protest in Perak

Meanwhile, in Batu Gajah, Perak about 20 women led by Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan held a 15-minute protest this morning outside a Petronas station in Lahat which is within her constituency.

"We used a chain to represent a chain reaction as a result of the increase in petrol price. One end of the chain was tied to our waists while the other end to a diesel drum.

"This was to represent the pressure and the strangling effect felt by women as a result of the petrol price hike," said the opposition DAP parliamentarian, when contacted.

Fong said police personnel monitoring the short demonstration outnumbered the protestors themselves.