May Day: Anti-GST rally on, but cops say 'no marching'

“Tens of thousands” of people, according to organisers, are expected to turn up at several points in the city centre today to march to Jalan Raja near Dataran Merdeka for the May Day anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) protest.

However, while the police have given rally-goers the green light for a gathering in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad building on Jalan Raja, they warned that it was “illegal” for anyone to march to that location.

“No marching is allowed. It is not right. If you want to assemble, just go straight to Jalan Raja. Street protests are an offence under the Peaceful Assembly Act. We won’t allow it, ” Dang Wangi district police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Ahmad said last night.

“Don’t disturb others, don’t disturb the traffic. Not everyone likes them, so please respect the rights of others,” he added.

Protesters are expected to first converge at four points – namely KLCC, Sogo Shopping Complex, Masjid Negara, Dataran Maybank (Pudu) – around 2pm before moving to the area right in front of Dataran Merdeka.

Previously, police had declared it “illegal” for anyone to go to Dataran Merdeka, which is undergoing renovations.

The authorities had said that the organizers had failed to inform the police within 10 days of the rally, though it was pointed out that a recent landmark Court of Appeal decision ruled that the related provision was "unconstitutional". Police have since allowed the event to continue at Jalan Raja.

'Cops: Possible arrests not for assembly itself'

Speaking to Astro AWANI, Zainuddin said Jalan Raja, which will be blocked off today, can already accommodate between 15,000 to 18,000 people, and asked protestors not to move to other areas nearby.

Asked if any arrests will be made, Zainuddin said that such an action would only take place “only if it is a sizable offence such as someone bringing weapons, or riots, or does anything against the law”, but “not the assembly itself”.

Zainuddin said the organizers have promised him “no disturbance and no violence”, and he said police will facilitate as promised as well.

Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, speaking on behalf of the 95 NGOs forming the May Day organizing committee said that he expects the public “to come in full force”.

“This year, we will focus on abolishing the GST.

“GST can only be implemented if we have free education, free healthcare, and higher incomes. Without these, it would only be madness,” said Arutchelvan.

The 70 percent of the poor, he said, will be badly affected if the government continues its plan to reduce corporate tax and impose the broad based consumption-based tax next year.

'Organisers: We will still march on'

On the police warning against marches, Arutchelvan said: “We will follow the Constitution. There is no band on anything like that, and we have already given the assurance that traffic won’t be a problem. Such walks take place all over the world; don’t use technical grounds to stop us.”

Meanwhile, PKR leader Tian Chua said that the people should “be at ease” as it would be a “historic” and peaceful event on people’s worries over the rising cost of living.

“I hope that May Day this year will be remembered as a day where the people came out in unity to express their desire to see a better managed economy,” said Tian, repeating that the GST cannot be the answer for Malaysia now before the government tighten leakages and reduce corruption.

Tian said that aside from GST, other groups, such as Bersih and those who are against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement will also join the rally.

Red is the theme colour for the event and several Pakatan Rakyat leaders are also expected to join in the rally, including opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu,

May 1, called Workers’ Day or Labour Day, is celebrated yearly around the world.

It was declared a public holiday in 1972 in Malaysia, but was only fully made compulsory after some protests in the 80s.

The yearly May Day protests organised by worker’s unions and political groups have often led to blocks and arrests by police.