Find Out How These Young Malaysians Are On A Mission To #TangkapNajib
On the 1st of August, a rally organised by a group of youths will take place in front of Sogo shopping complex from 2pm onwards.
By Rohini Rajaratnam — 01 Aug 2015, 11:41 PM
#TangkapNajib rally quashed as over 20 protesters nabbed
Student leader Fahmi Zainol is arrested for taking part in the #TangkapNajib protest rally outside the Sogo Department Store in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman today.
Image via TMIPolice have displayed a show of force ahead of an expected crackdown on the #TangkapNajib protest in downtown Kuala Lumpur. There are also three police trucks and one police van in front of the mall, usually used to transport arrested participants in protests.
malaysiakini.com
The #TangkapNajib rally in the city has turned somewhat chaotic as the police have reportedly arrested over 20 protesters for their involvement in the event, which was earlier declared illegal by the authorities. The event, which was scheduled to kick off from 2pm, first drew a small crowd of about 50 protesters to the event venue outside the Sogo shopping center.
After an attempt to negotiate with the police over their right to assemble peacefully in public, the police arrested two Perak PKR leaders — Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang and Simpang Pulai assemblyman Tan Kar Hing. The duo were seen being led away into a police truck.
themalaymailonline.com
Some youths in the crowd, angered by the police action, which some reported was carried out with brute force, retaliated by lighting loud fire crackers in the midst of the gathered crowd.
Commotion ensued from the fire cracker explosions, and an FMT reporter at the scene sustained a minor leg injury. The chaos of the scene also caused curious onlookers to gather, leading to massive traffic congestion along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.
A young woman is arrested for being part of the #TangkapNajib rally outside the Sogo Department Store in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur today.
Image via TMISources said police were also stopping those wearing white T-shirts at the nearby Raja Laut LRT station to stop them from joining the crowd in Sogo. Several roads were also blocked to limit access into the city centre.
At 3pm, police, using hailers, issued another round of warning to the participants to disperse. It is learnt that the arrests now have numbered to 20.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had said yesterday that police would not compromise with any group inciting people to take to the streets to topple the government.
themalaysianinsider.com
31 July: Disappointed with the state of politics and the decline of accountability, a group of youths calling themselves "Demi Malaysia" (For Malaysia) will be gathering this Saturday to urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to resign
"Until today, the prime minister has failed to answer how 1MDB can pay up their billions of ringgit in debts. Realising the need to push, to save the country and free the people from continued economic, political and social uncertainty, the youths are grouping together to demand that Najib resign as prime minister immediately."
"Demi Malaysia is calling on all youngsters and the people of Malaysia to attend a peaceful gathering that will be held on August 1 in front of Sogo shopping complex at 2pm," said student activist Adam Adli Abd Halim, who is the spokesperson for the group.
akrockefeller.com
However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has given a stern warning to the organiser of the planned rally in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, not to jeopardise national security
"We have laws and cannot do anything we like to topple the government. There is a constitutional way to change the government and this is my last warning. The rally could be organised in the country but it must follow the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012," he told reporters at the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam.
themalaysianinsider.com
The Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is the law which regulates public protests in Malaysia. The Act allows citizens to organise and participate in assemblies peaceably and without arms, subject to restrictions deemed necessary and in the interest of public order and security
Adam Adli Abd Halim said the warning by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was simply seen as a tactic to stop any show of dissent against the prime minister
Members of Demi Malaysia held a press conference on the #TangkapNajib rally in Bangsar yesterday
Image via The Malaysian InsiderHe said similar assemblies in Kuala Lumpur happened before and they were carried out peacefully without disrupting the harmony of the country.
"This is a right that is guaranteed under the constitution. There is no need for us to ask for a permit and all. The police warning is only a tactic by the authorities to stop us from carrying out the protest. There is nothing here that is against the law."
"Demonstrations are not foreign in Kuala Lumpur. From small ones to larger gatherings... we have seen them. We know there nothing is bad about it, the harmony and security are not disrupted," he said.
greatermalaysia.com
The 26-year-old also stated that Khalid's statement yesterday seemed to be behind times and the organisers were prepared to cooperate with the police if there was a need
"We understand the protest is a democratic process, especially for the people who don't have the opportunity to speak in Parliament. This is a platform for the normal citizen to speak," he added.
On 2 Jul, the group called for a new opposition coalition following the demise of Pakatan Rakyat
Image via MalaysiakiniFellow activist Safwan Anang, said that this Saturday's gathering would be the beginning of a bigger rally that will be held in the coming weeks
"We start with the August 1 demonstration because yesterday Bersih 2.0 announced that they will be organising a bigger rally. We will make August 1 as the momentum of the people who are angry at what is happening," he said.
The organisers are expecting some 500 people to join the gathering and urged those attending to be in white clothing. They have also arranged for volunteer legal and medical teams to be present at the protest.
