Turun Anwar rally ends, crowd disperses
Fewer than 20,000 people were estimated to have taken part in the Turun Anwar rally.
KUALA LUMPUR: What started as a protest against the planned Urban Renewal Act (URA) quickly shifted to a rally at Dataran Merdeka demanding for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister.
According to the organisers, PAS Youth, 300,000 participants were expected today, but police had estimated 10,000 to 15,000.
This live coverage of the protest was brought to you by FMT’s Afizi Ismail, Andrea Edmonds, Anne Muhammad, Hizami Safri, Moganraj Villavan, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar and Yee Suet Mun.
5.17pm – Turun Anwar rally ends, crowd disperses
The Turun Anwar rally has officially come to an end, with the recital of an Islamic prayer, and the crowd of fewer than 20,000 singing the national anthem.
The assembly which saw participants gathering at five meeting points before marching to Dataran Merdeka went smoothly, with no disturbances reported.
Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad will hold a press conference on the rally at 6pm.
mahathir mohamad
5.05pm – Dear Anwar, we’re fed up with you
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad led the crowd in chants against Anwar Ibrahim at Dataran Merdeka, saying Malaysians were fed up with having him as their prime minister.
“In the past more than two years, what did we get? And what did you get? You’re enjoying, while we’re suffering,” he said.
Mahathir told Anwar to take a hint from the large crowd that turned out today and step down from the top post.
5pm – Dr M’s jabs at Anwar leaves crowd in stitches
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad took several sarcastic jabs at Anwar at the rally, leaving the crowd in stitches.
The 100-year-old displayed his trademark wit and sarcasm as he addressed the crowd at Dataran Merdeka, even doing impersonations of Anwar at some point.
4.53pm – Anwar’s no judge, says Dr M
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 100, has again ridiculed Anwar’s refusal to take action against him over his role in the Batu Puteh issue simply because of his age.
He said Anwar had essentially determined that he was guilty of a crime, but reiterated that the prime minister does not make such decisions.
“If he is really set on finding out the truth, he should just haul me to court. Instead, he uses my age as an excuse,” he told the crowd.
muhyiddin yassin
4.34pm – This govt isn’t caring, says Muhyiddin
PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin accused the unity government of not caring enough for the people, citing an apparent price increase in various basic necessities.
The former prime minister said what Malaysians wanted was for the prices of these goods to go down, along with Anwar to step down.
He also questioned why Putrajaya was giving the RM100 cash aid to all adult Malaysians, saying it should instead be targeted towards the B40 income group so more funds could be distributed to them.
hamzah zainudin
4.20pm – Hamzah leads prayer for Anwar’s resignation
Leading chants calling for Anwar Ibrahim to step down, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said the people were suffering and that they had enough of being led by the unity government.
“What the people want isn’t a RM100 cash aid, what we want is for Anwar to step down,” said the Bersatu deputy president.
He then led a prayer for Dr Mahathir Mohamad, describing him as a true warrior for the Malays, and for Anwar to resign from the top post.
4.13pm – Dr M arrives
Dr Mahathir Mohamad has arrived for the Turun Anwar rally, with his bodyguards needing to push through the crowd to make room for the former prime minister.
He is set to deliver the final speech at the rally later.
4.10pm – We made govt give RM100 aid, says Lau
Gerakan president Dominic Lau claimed that the Turun Anwar rally had pressured the government into giving the RM100 one-off cash aid and lower the price of RON95 to RM1.99 later this year.
Lau, a PN deputy chairman, claimed that the aid measures disclosed by Anwar on Wednesday would not have been announced if not for public support for the rally.
azmin
4.05pm – Azmin hits out at Anwar
Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali has hit out at Anwar for allegedly failing political parties, small businesses and taxi drivers.
Azmin, who was previously Anwar’s deputy president in PKR before defecting to Bersatu in 2020’s “Sheraton Move”, said today’s rally was held to save Malaysia and not out of spite.
4.04pm – DAP man disputes PAS’s turnout claim
DAP vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan disputed PAS’s claim that more than 500,000 people had turned up for the rally, saying the more realistic estimates he received was between 18,000 to 20,000 protesters.
He did not disclose the source of these estimates, however.
“What’s important is that the right to assemble is respected and preserved,” he said in a post on X.
protes
3.45pm – MIPP, Gerakan lead crowd in Tamil, Mandarin chants
Malaysian Indian People’s Party president P Punithan led the crowd in several chants in Tamil against the government, much to the amusement of protesters who gleefully echoed the former MIC leader.
Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen did the same thing as he took over the stage, leading the crowd in chants in Mandarin.
Punithan and Wong also said today’s rally was not about one particular racial or religious demographic but Malaysia as a whole.
3.35pm – Mas Ermieyati leads crowd in ‘ABCD-SST’ song
Wanita Bersatu chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin led the crowd in a song that poked fun at the expanded SST, drawing cheers and laughter from protesters as the rain continued to pour.
Using the melody of the alphabet song, it also took a jab at the rise in prices of goods and the government’s unfulfilled promises.
The song was previously parodied by DAP leaders when mocking the goods and services tax in 2018.
3.30pm – Opposition taking to the streets as they lack numbers, says minister
Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail claimed that the opposition had to resort to taking to the streets as it lacked the support to remove the prime minister via a no-confidence motion.
Saifuddin said the prime minister had previously stated he would instruct the speaker to give priority to such motions, New Straits Times reported.
He questioned why the opposition had not gone through the proposed channel to remove a leader, noting that the Dewan Rakyat had been sitting for the past five days
“The reality is, they don’t have the numbers… only support within their own circle,” he was quoted as saying.
fadhli
3.15pm – PAS claims 500,000 protesters at rally
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari claims that more than 500,000 people have gathered for the Turun Anwar rally.
Addressing the crowd at Dataran Merdeka, Fadhli urged the rally-goers against believing the estimates cited by mainstream media, and to stay put despite the rain.
“We will not move even though it pours,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
3.03pm – Rain at Dataran Merdeka
It has started to rain at Dataran Merdeka but the rally-goers are unperturbed and remain in high spirits.
The speeches have also begun with former Umno leader Isham Jalil and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim addressing the crowd.
protes
2.38pm – ‘Najib’ appears at rally
Najib Razak made an “appearance” at the Turun Anwar rally, by way of a portrait of the former prime minister carried by one of the protesters at Dataran Merdeka.
His portrait could be seen held high by one of the participants who had marched from Masjid Negara to Dataran Merdeka.
Najib, who was the prime minister from 2009 to 2018, is currently serving his reduced six-year prison sentence in connection with the SRC International case.
protes
2.15pm – Protesters start marching to Dataran Merdeka
The protesters gathered at the five meeting points are starting to make their way to Dataran Merdeka.
The meeting points are Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex.
Outside Sogo, groups from outside the Klang Valley could be seen waving the flags of their home states, including Pahang, Terengganu and Perlis.
Spokesperson Tian Chua gaza trump protest
2.06pm – Tian Chua skips rally
Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua said he will not be attending the rally, although he was slated to speak at Dataran Merdeka at about 3.15pm based on a schedule sent by organisers.
“I’m not going to the rally although the organisers sent me an invitation,” he told FMT, adding that he will not be in town.
1.45pm – Gerakan leader addresses crowd in Mandarin
At Dataran Merdeka, a rather amusing scene cropped up as a Gerakan leader started addressing the crowd, who are mostly Malay, in Mandarin.
Malaysiakini reported that the protesters were in the dark as to what he was saying, but still shouted in support while all smiles.
protes
1.38pm – Over 3,500 protesters at Sogo
Policemen estimate that over 3,500 protesters are gathered at Sogo, though rally-goers claim that there are nearly 10,000 of them.
They will begin moving towards Dataran Merdeka at about 2.30pm.
1.37pm – PN has capable leaders
Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said no prime minister is “irreplaceable”.
He claimed that Perikatan Nasional, the coalition his party is a component of, has capable leaders, but did not name anyone in particular.
protes
1.32pm – From Bersih to ‘Turun Anwar’ with kids in tow
Zulaikha Zaidi, 29, from Muar, Johor, had brought her three children, aged four, eight and 11, to the rally but said this was not her first time bringing her child to such an assembly.
She said she had also attended the Bersih 5 rally in 2016 with her eldest child, who was a year and a half at the time.
Zulaikha acknowledged that the law did not allow parents to bring children under the age of 15 to rallies, but said this was to give them “experience”.
She said she had no one else who could look after them while she was at the rally.
Usuf Jan Mohamad
1.25 pm – Organisers had no permission to set up stage at Dataran Merdeka
Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said the rally’s organisers did not apply for any permit to set up a temporary stage at Dataran Merdeka. The stage has since been removed by DBKL.
He said there were safety concerns over the stage’s structure, adding that there was no indication as to how many people would be on the stage at any one time.
“The earlier agreement between the police and the organisers was that two Toyota Hiluxes would be used as a ‘stage’,” he said in a brief statement to the media.
protes
1.10pm – Business opportunities at rally
Under the scorching sun near Sogo, a group of teenagers found a way to show support and make some pocket money by selling cold drinks.
The three friends, all aged about 17, set up a roadside stall with nine large jars of different beverages, selling the drinks at RM5 a cup.
“It’s really hot today, so we thought people would definitely want a cold drink,” said one of the teenagers, known only as Aidil.
Another group of friends – four to five men in their 40s – took the opportunity to sell t-shirts and headbands at RM20 and RM5, respectively.
One of them, who introduced himself simply as AG, said they were here to “do business and call for the prime minister to step down”.
12.58pm – I wasn’t invited, says Anwar
Met at an event in Putrajaya, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim quipped that he will not be attending today’s rally as he was not invited by the organisers.
“I wasn’t invited,” he said briefly when asked by reporters.
Takiyuddin Hassan
12:55pm – Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan addresses crowd at Sogo
Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan reminded the protesters of their right to assemble and to free speech, which was guaranteed under the Peaceful Assembly Act and the Federal Constitution.
Takiyuddin, who is the PAS secretary-general, also reassured the crowd at Sogo that today’s assembly was legitimate as they had informed the authorities about the gathering much earlier.
He thanked the police for facilitating the rally and for keeping the peace.
Takiyuddin also called on the protesters to make citizen arrests if they come across those who incite violence and hand them over to the police.
“We need to ensure that the rally does not breach any law or violate the constitution,” he said.
12.54pm – Masjid Jamek protesters start marching to Dataran
Protesters gather outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad have started marching to Dataran Merdeka, while those at Sogo are expected to start moving at about 2pm.
12.46pm – Family on holiday turns up for rally
Met at the rally, Mohamad Zaini from Kedah said he and his family were supposed to be in KL for a short holiday and to attend his wife’s convocation ceremony.
“It so happened that the rally is taking place while we are in town, so we decided to come and support,” said Mohamad, who was accompanied by his wife and their two children, aged 10 and eight.
protes
12.42pm – Over 2,000 gather at Masjid Jamek
More than 2,000 protesters have gathered outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, according to estimates by policemen.
During the speeches, one protester on a megaphone said they were there “not to terrorise anyone but for the rakyat’s voice to be heard”, drawing cheers from other rally-goers.
protes
12.12pm – ‘Hidup Rakyat’, ‘Turun Anwar’ chants ring out
Chants of “Hidup Rakyat” and “Turun Anwar” have started ringing out from Sogo and Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad. The protesters were informed that they will start marching to Dataran Merdeka at 1pm.
Using a megaphone, one protester said they were all gathering “from Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak to call for Anwar to step down”.
Attendees were spotted wearing black t-shirts listing various grievances with the government, including the expanded sales and service tax, the URA, and the apparent lack of reforms implemented by the government.
protes turun
11:55am – Crowd continues to swell
The number of participants gathered continues to swell, with about 1,000 now gathered outside Sogo. The atmosphere remains lively, with traders selling “Turun Anwar” merchandise like headbands, t-shirts, fans and stickers.
Some protesters were seen with their children in tow too. The Peaceful Assembly Act prohibits bringing a child to protests.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was spotted outside Sogo briefing the party’s volunteer corps, Unit Amal, which has been tasked with crowd control for the rally.
At Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, more than 300 people have gathered. One participant who resides in Bangsar said the reason he was participating in the rally was to show the government that it “cannot just do whatever it likes”.
“They made a lot of promises before this but they have not been fulfilled,” he said.
dbkl protes
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has confiscated a stage and equipment that were set up at Dataran Merdeka this morning for the rally.
In a Facebook post, PAS member Nurul Islam Yusoff criticised the authorities, saying party workers had started setting up the stage at 3am.
PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden claimed the authorities had agreed to allow them to set up the stage yesterday.
protes turun
Hundreds of rally-goers have started to gather at five meeting points around the city centre, namely Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex.
The atmosphere at Sogo is more lively but there are fewer protesters outside Masjid Negara.
PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah was among those spotted at the rally so far.
