200 protesters march to Dataran, urging govt to hasten reforms

Summary

• Around 200 protesters gathered for the “Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah” anti-graft rally in Kuala Lumpur today.

• Police and city hall officers facilitated the rally despite protesters breaching barricades.

• Rally secretariat demands Putrajaya to hasten reforms to curb corruption.

Around 200 protesters at the “Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah” anti-graft rally in Kuala Lumpur today have reached Dataran Merdeka after a march from the Sogo shopping mall about 1km away.

They sang and chanted their way to the square, holding drums and posters, under the watchful eyes of the authorities who did not stop them.

Some of the participants could be heard chanting “Hidup, hidup, anak muda” (long live the youths) and “kita turun, kita lawan” (we’re here, we’ll fight).

The multiracial crowd of protesters mainly comprised youths. Their march was carried out under grey skies and some drizzle.

Also present were Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Sevan Doraisamy, Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan, activist Fahmi Reza, former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, and Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek.

The protesters, mostly clad in black T-shirts, first gathered at Sogo at about 2.30pm today, breaching barricades that were set up there. Police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers did not prevent them from doing so.

Earlier, DBKL sealed off the front entrances of Sogo and Dataran Merdeka ahead of the planned rally.

The entrance was blocked by several white metal barrier gates and sealed with red-and-white tape.

A notice was posted in the sealed area, warning the public not to sit, gather, or engage in any activities there.

Barricades were set up on the road entering the square near an entrance to public parking.

Large sections of the main road leading to Dataran Merdeka were blocked off as well.

But small groups of tourists mill around the historic square, purchasing iced beverages and taking pictures.

When asked about the barricades, DBKL officials at the site claimed this was a standard practice unrelated to the upcoming protest.

During a press conference later, Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah secretary Zaim Zulkifli said the rally was the beginning of a wave against issues that plague the country such as corruption.

“This is the beginning of us building a fresher ‘wave’.

“We’re confident that this time there is a need for new faces in our own students, born from us, to bring forward civil issues,” he said.

The crowd later dispersed peacefully at around 4.30pm.

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