MAHB-Blackrock deal: Hunger striker reports health issues on day 6

A pro-Palestine activist on a hunger strike to protest the sale of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) shares to a Blackrock-linked company has reported stomach and leg cramps.

M Mythreyar, when met near Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, said he remained in high spirits on the sixth day of his strike.

He said he will continue with the protest until “positive news” is received from the government.

“I am a little bit tired, my stomach and legs are starting to cramp. I’m monitoring my blood sugar level in case of a crash.

“This morning I drank a bottle of water. Maybe this evening a doctor will come to check my health. I will continue with this strike for as long as I’m able to,” Mythreyar told Malaysiakini.

Last Friday, he received glucose via intravenous drip after his body became increasingly exhausted on the third day of his strike.

Strong support

Mythreyar began his strike in front of the Parliament building last Wednesday before moving to the current location at Dataran Merdeka due to bad weather.

“So far, no one came to disturb me, and I received a lot of support,” he said today.

He marked his protest site, on a busy pavement near a public toilet, with a mat and several signs stating solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

On one occasion, he said an Indian man approached him and asked him to “go to Palestine”, and also to fight for suffering Indians in Malaysia instead.

“I ignored him because he doesn’t understand this is an issue about the nation’s sovereignty,” he said.

In Parliament, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said he had, together with several other Perikatan Nasional MPs, visited Mythreyar earlier this afternoon.

“His stand (against Blackrock) is firm and one that is commendable,” said the Bersatu youth chief.

Wan Fayhsal, who had on numerous occasions raised the MAHB sale issue in and out of the Dewan Rakyat, reiterated that he would continue to speak up until the deal is called off.

On July 10, Mythreyar, who is from Tanjung Malim, Perak, began his hunger strike, which he said would continue until the government called off the MAHB deal.

Hunger strikes are a method of non-violent resistance, and are usually undertaken by refusing solid foods while consuming some but limited liquid.

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