People's Congress: 'We hope our Rulers will hear the rakyat's voices' - Dr Mahathir
Astro Awani
March 27, 2016 17:59 MYT
March 27, 2016 17:59 MYT
The event was attended by a strong 1,500-odd supporters. - Photo by Astro AWANI
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad attended the 2016 Rakyat Congress at the Shah Alam Convention Centre here at about 1.55pm today.
The arrival of the veteran politician and wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali were greeted by the strong 2,000-odd participants who unanimously chanted ‘reformasi’.
A total of 19 speakers from various political background took centrestage to address the crowd. The climax of the event was when the 90-year-old Dr Mahathir galiantly walked up to the rostrum amid cheers and jeers from the crowd.
Apart from Dr Mahathir, the others were Pagoh UMNO chief and former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir Mohamad, Selangor MB Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and former law minister, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
His speech was carried ‘live’ on Astro Awani Facebook.at http://www.facebook.com/astroawani
Astro Awani broadcast journalists, Hilal Azmi, Nizam Bakeri and T.K. Letchumy Tamboo were there to bring 'live' updates of the proceedings via 501Awani/Twitter.
5.51PM: The climax of People's Congress 2016 was when Dr Mahathir took his spot on stage amid cheers and jeers from the supportive crowd.
5.30PM: Muhyiddin Yassin opened his speech stating that 'Malaysia is on the brink of emergency'. Muhyiddin also jokingly said that he never dreamt of sitting beside Lim Kit Siang.
5.15PM: Gombak MP, who is also PKR Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali was greeted with chants of 'reformasi' as he walked towards the stage to address the crowd:
5PM: Lim Kit Siang received thunderous applause as he took centrestage:
4.50PM: AMANAH President, Mohamad Sabu tickled fellow participants when he reminisced about his arrest under the regime of Dr Mahathir. He quickly retracted citing that his attendance at the event was not to regale attendees about the past but to the future. He also cited the act of criticising pensioners as 'an unmanly act'.
4.40PM: Mukhriz Mahathir stole the limelight when he took to the stage. He touched on how leaders should be transparent in issues involving the rakyat.:
4.26PM: PKR vice-president and secretary-general, Rafizi Ramli talked about leaders and abuse of power:
4.14PM: Former Bersih 2.0 chairperson, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said it is time to say 'no' to leaders who treat the country as their own:
4PM: AMANAH deputy president, Salahuddin Ayub took to the stage and talked about how the country has flourished under a host of Finance Ministers including one from the Chinese community.
3.50PM: Former MIC secretary-general, Datuk Murugesan Sinandavar advised his BN counterparts to speak only the truth:
3.40PM: Pas' former vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said to seek justice, one must fight any wrongdoings in all sense of the word:
3.20PM: Pokok Sena MP, Datuk Mahfuz Omar was invited to stage to address the audience.
3pm: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok talked about hope and faith.