Tweets And Instagram Uploads Of Malaysians At The Anti-GST Rally
Social media was heavily used on 1 May 2014 at the anti-GST rally in Kuala Lumpur. Here's a closer look at photos, videos and tweets of Malaysians who were present at the scene of the rally.
By Darian Goh — 02 May 2014, 03:19 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
On 1 May 2014, A Rally Was Held At Dataran Merdeka To Protest Against The Implementation Of GST
An estimated 50,000 is reported to have gathered around the streets of Dataran Merdeka in the May Day rally against the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
malaysiakini.comEarlier, protesters flooded Jalan Raja in the anti-GST rally, which began at four locations in the capital city at about 9.30am - KLCC, Sogo, Dataran Maybank and Masjid Negara. The gatherings picked up closer to noon with the bulk of demonstrators arriving in large numbers at the four meeting points at 11.30am to the rallying cries of ceramahs, such as those given by Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack, former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general S. Arutchelvan.
thestar.com.my
The rally was organised by a coalition of 95 NGOs.
themalaysianinsider.com
The Protest Was To Pressure The Government To Abolish GST In Fear That It Will Add To The Rising Cost Of Living
People are protesting in fear that GST will add to the burden of living costs
Image via Keow Wee LoongPrime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced in his 2014 budget speech last October that GST will take effect in April 2015.
malaysiakini.comIt had sparked concerns that prices of goods would soar and add to the burden of the average Malaysian household.
themalaysianinsider.com
Selvarajah Maniam, 53 said: "We want the Government to know that we are against the new tax system that will only burden the people." He said he did not buy the Government's rationale for implementing GST.
thestar.com.my
Some Users Tweeted And Showed Support For The Rally
"The response is encouraging. I hope that the government will consider our views," she said.
thestar.com.myHundreds of supporters have gathered in front of Sogo. Some motorists passing by honk, protesters are blowing vuvuzelas.
thestar.com.myWhile Others Didn't Think It Was Too Effective
Social Media Users Managed To Capture A Scuffle That Happened Between Some Protesters And The Media
A rowdy group of youths clashed with reporters near Dataran Merdeka today just after the Anti-GST rally ended.
malaysiakini.com“We need to enter but they blocked us. We want to access the field. We are here to fight – not fight physically but fight the Government. But Unit Amal is blocking us.
thestar.com.myThe scene later escalated into a brief melee between the media personnel and the youths. A Xin Hua news agency videographer was kicked while another youth hurled a wooden flagpole that struck another photographer.
malaysiakini.comPoliticians Also Voiced Their Opinion On Twitter
Anwar tells the crowd that they should not have to wait for the next general election for change but to press for reformation of the system now.
malaysiakini.com
Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang tweets sarcastically that the crowd is mostly Malay and DAP is probably busy watching the movie Spiderman 2.
malaysiakini.com
Gerakan's Tan Keng Liang asked why children were brought along which is irresponsible of them
Image via imgur.com
Khairy Jamaluddin also had a tongue in cheek response to the rally by claiming that people just went there for the 'selfie'
Image via imgur.comWhile Some Used Instagram To Post 'Live' Reports Of What Went On
