Police disrupt #KitaLawan rally in Jalan Ampang
Hamzah Hamid
March 28, 2015 18:41 MYT
March 28, 2015 18:41 MYT
#KitaLawan demonstrators called for among others, the resignation of IGP, GST abolishment and the release of Pakatan Rakyat leaders from detention. - Astro AWANI/Hamzah Hamid
A crowd of 500 #KitaLawan demonstrators was detained by police in front of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre in Jalan Ampang at approximately 6pm, today.
The group led by the Opposition and NGOs, called for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police and for the release of those detained recently in connection with the illegal demonstrations.
Two hours prior to the Jalan Ampang episode at 4pm, an approximate 50 demonstrators had gathered near Masjid Jamek before they started marching towards Jalan Parlimen and Jalan Raja.
The streets in Kuala Lumpur reverberated with the voices of demonstrators trying to outdo each other chanting ‘Reformasi’, ‘Hapus GST’, ‘Bebas Tahanan’ and ‘Undur Najib’.
It was a sight to behold when some of the demonstrators came decked in various colours of baju Melayu complete with ‘bunga manggar’ singing to the popular tune of ‘Selamat Pengantin Baru’ with parody-tinged lyrics.
Police had been deployed to ease traffic around the area.
Some of the leaders seen in the crown were Bersih 2.0 chief, Maria Chin, Keadilan Youth Brigade (AMK) Pulau Pinang vice chief, Dr.Afif Bahardin and Jingga 14 chief Fariz Musa.
Also present were PAS Central Committee member, Khalid Samad and activists Mandeep Singh and A.Samad Said.
“We are gathered today as our rights as Malaysia citizen. I caution the IGP to stop preventing the rakyat from holding gatherings,” said Afif.
Repeated issues that were raised at the gathering were the soon-to-implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST), the debt-ridden 1MDB, national debt, injustice and alleged unlawful arrests of Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
It was reported that the gathering planned to distrupt the wedding reception of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's daughter at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).