SEBERANG JAYA: The Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup (Turun) rally held outside Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Jaya today saw about 500 individuals from various groups and NGOs protesting against the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The peaceful rally, monitored by some 30 police personnel to control traffic amidst shouts of “turun, turun!” and “Najib Otak Kangkung, Rosmah tak pakai tudung!” started at about 2pm.
Among the Pakatan Rakyat leaders present at the rally included Machang Bubok state rep Lee Khai Loon, Bakar Arang assemblyman Simon Ooi and Teja rep Chang Lih Kang.
Protesters also carried banners and placards condemning the federal government for not fulfilling their pre-general election promise of no price-hike.
Many were also seen carrying bunches of kangkung or water spinach, calling Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak PM Kangkung.
PKR head of strategies and Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli arrived at about an hour later to a resounding applause and shouts of support from the crowd.
In his speech, Rafizi said that the rally today was just a small start and there would be more to come.
He also urged the crowd and supporters not to bow and conform to the federal government’s ways of making life hard for the rakyat by increasing the price of goods while those in power were leading a luxurious lifestyle.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister 1Rashid Hasnon who also spoke during the rally said the turnout at the rally was a sign that the rakyat was fed up with the government’s empty promises.
“We chose to gather outside this mall to show that even shoppers could not afford to shop like how they used to,” he said.
Also seen giving a speech at the rally was Bayan Baru PKR MP Sim Tze Tzin.
On Friday, a state emergency meeting was called by state Security Council chief and CM Lim Guan Eng to urge certain quarters to distant themselves from certain rallies that could put Pakatan Rakyat in a bad light.
The group, including Turun rally organiser Jingga14, had allegedly chosen to disregard advice by Lim to postpone or even call off the rally due to the recent incidents of several “violent” counter-protests of late.
According to internal sources, cracks are starting to show within the state Pakatan coalition, illustrated by today’s rally whereby some leaders from PKR had gone ahead to hold the rally.
Also seen at the protest were deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy and several other DAP leaders who seemed to be lying low at the protest.
It is learnt that the rally was held without police permit.
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