KUALA LUMPUR, 1 Masy: The number of participants who marched from the National Mosque increased to 25,000 people, when it was joined by a group that had arrived earlier at the junction of Jalan Tun Perak – Jalan TAR.
PKR President, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, in her speech, said that women will me most affected by the rising prices because the group buys the most goods at the market.
The 1 May Assembly which was held at Dataran Merdeka today is to show the people’s power and to warn Umno-Barisan Nasional to cancel the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The PKR Vice President, Tian Chua, said that the Umno-BN minority government failed to keep its promise in the last General Election when they insist on imposing a tax that will burden the people.
“Malaysians are very disappointed when the government takes a step that burdens the people with the GST.
“We should be aware of the impact in our economic state is the GST is implemented.”
“That is why we are here today in assembly to show the people’s power and oppose the implementation of the tax,” said Tian Chua in front of the participants of the assembly at Dataran Maybank.
The PAS Youth Secretary, Mohd Nasir Ismail, chanted ‘Merdeka’ (independence) as soon as they arrives at Dataran Merdeka.
Meanwhile, the group of participants in KLCC began to march towards Dataran Merdeka with red flags flooding Jalan Ampang, in front of the Avenue K building.
This group was led by the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) Secretary General, S Arutchelvan and they marched chanting ‘Bangkit! Bangkit! Bangkit rakyat!’ (Rise up! Rise up! Rise u people!).
Buses and taxis were also stuck in traffic behind this group of participants who walked slowly towards Dataran Merdeka.
Also seen marching with this group was the former Chairman of BERSIH, Datuk S Ambiga and the founder of the SUARAM NGO, Dr Kua Kia Soong.
Meanwhile at the National Mosque, the Vice President of PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar, together with the leaders of Pakatan Rakyat, led over 5,000 participants who had just finished their prayers.
They chanted slogans like ‘Hancur BN’ (Destroy BN), ‘Hancur GST’ (Destroy GST’ and ‘Hancur BN’, while closely being monitored by the PAS Unit Amal.