Thousands gather for rally as polls loom

People gather at the Central Market ahead of the “Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat” rally in Kuala Lumpur, January 12, 2013. — Picture by Boo Su-Lyn

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 ― The city opened its eyes to a hive of activity this morning as thousands of people decked in a rainbow of colours began streaming in for Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, a mammoth rally backed by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that will mark the start of early campaigning before the 13th general election.

About 2,000 mostly-Malay protestors in green and yellow have already filled Masjid Negara and its surrounding areas, with many hoisting PAS flags and banners emblazoned with the words

“Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat”.

Mat Sabu addresses the crowd at a pre-rally gathering in Kuala Lumpur, January 11, 2013. — Picture by Choo Choy May

“I’m very nervous. Now, there are hundreds of thousands of people at Kuala Lumpur,” said PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, one of the rally’s chief organisers, at Masjid Negara to rousing applause and cheers.

“I think by 2pm, we’ll get our targeted one million,” said the politician popularly known as Mat Sabu.

Meanwhile, hundreds of young and old protesters wearing bright green and yellow have gathered at Central Market, one of eight meeting points before the rally at 2pm.

Police have said the rally must end by 5pm at the Stadium Merdeka, the first time the authorities have allowed a protest under the Peaceful Assembly Act passed last year. The stadium management has also agreed to the venue being used for the protest.

Businessman Nasarudin Mb Nor, who wore a green PAS scarf around his neck, said he arrived here at 9am after taking the bus from Alor Gajah, Perak.

“I support Pakatan and stand up for issues like corruption,” the 43-year-old told The Malaysian Insider.

People listen to speeches by PR leaders at a pre-rally gathering in Kuala Lumpur, January 11, 2013. — Picture by Choo Choy May

College student Layyin Alexandra, 19, said she was protesting for citizens’ rights.

“We want to stop Lynas, we want to stop Felda, we want oil royalties back. We want to stop AES. We want justice,” said Alexandra, who wore a yellow shirt.

At the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), around 100 people wearing red and yellow have crowded around the fountain. There was no police presence there.

Civil society movements are pushing for various demands at the rally ahead of Election 2013, including the scrapping of the Lynas rare-earth plant in Kuantan, the promise of fair royalty payments to oil-producing states, free education and a fair electoral process.

Protestors donned green to show their support for environmental causes, yellow for free and fair elections, and red for fair royalty payments.

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