The long-awaited anti-fuel hike by opposition parties proceeded without any untoward incident under the shadows of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

There were perhaps more helmeted Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) and police personnel and officers than the actual number of people who had gathered to demonstrate, judging from the seven FRU and three police trucks that had brought them.

The 300-something crowd had already gathered by 3 pm - the security personnel were there earlier - with the speeches starting at 3:10.

By 3:23, Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Kamal Pasha Jamal issued the first warning and said he would allow the organisers just five minutes to make their speeches and for the crowd to disperse.

PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli, the spokesperson of Protes - the alliance against the fuel hike comprising of opposition parties and non-governmental organisations that organised the gathering - had already gotten rolling.

"Petronas earned RM40 billion in profits! How can the people not get any benefits from this!" he thundered into the loud speaker.

As the speeches gained momentum, they were punctuated with the usual shouts of reformasi! hidup rakyat! and Turun harga minyak!

Despite the brave front, however, it was apparent that many in the crowd were apprehensive of an onslaught by the riot police.

Among those seen today were PKR secretary-general Zahir Hassan and PAS member Amran Zulkifli ( left in picture ), two who had suffered the brunt of the police' brutal crackdown on the last anti-fuel hike demonstration on May 28 .

Both had to seek medical treatment for their injuries on what became known as 'Bloody Sunday' .

The sight of Amran, in particular, with blood flowing profusely from the deep wounds in his head, had shocked those who were at the protest as well as others who had seen his image on the Internet.

Speeches completed

During today's assembly, Hatta at one point looked over at the police presence to lead the crowd in chanting Polis-Polis! Jangan Pukul! and Police baik - kami baik! (If the police are good, we will be good!)

Following him, two representatives from the Malaysian Students Solidarity (SMM) and Students Democratic Movement (Dema) spoke against the fuel hike and the consequent hike in prices of other essential goods.

Kamal, atop a FRU truck, warned the crowd and organisers at 3:32 through his loudspeaker that their time had expired. He also gave the signal to the police personnel below him to prepare for mobilisation.

By 3:40, the crowd had already heard Zahir and PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu.

As the red-helmeted FRU marched menacingly towards the crowd, however, PKR information chief Tian Chua had already concluded his speech.

Activist S Arutchelvan, in his closing remarks, thanked the police for their cooperation. He vowed, however, that further action were in the pipeline to protest the fuel-hikes

When approached later, PKR Youth deputy publicity chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin said today's gathering illustrated the control and discipline that can be exercised over such public gatherings - contrary to the authorities' portrayal of them as being unruly or violent mobs.

"We have proved that we can exercise such discipline as long as there is no disturbance from any external parties - such as the police. People got to express their frustrations (over the price hikes), and this is partly what a democracy is," he told malaysiakini.

As the convoy of FRU and police trucks rolled away from the Twin Towers, the crowd cheered - some booed - their restraint.

The police, in response, honked their horns in recognition.

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