Short pants and Gen Y at anti-GST rally

The first big rally I covered as a journalist was in 2010. It was the second Bersih rally, and my colleagues and I stayed overnight near Medan Tuanku], forced to do so by road closures and a police all-out clampdown.

The picture of demonstrators filling up Jalan Tun Perak on July 9 that year is still my mobile phone wallpaper and looking at it today, a few things jumped out at me.

Most, if not all in the photograph, were in long pants, many in long sleeves, with towels or handkerchiefs tied across their faces, carrying backpacks of anti-tear gas supplies - toothpaste, salt, bottles of water.

The women were dressed about the same, with many in long tudungs. Others were in combat pants and boots, some had brought along gas masks.

No one was in a short skirt or even sandals for obvious reasons. No one wants to risk being groped or trampled, or worse still, having your skin actually touched on the lock-up floor if hauled up.

Fast forward to 2014 and it almost feels like a different place altogether.

Amid the throng of people at the anti-goods and services tax rally on Thursday was a place for short skirts and faux Channel handbags, for men in pressed chinos and polo shirts, elderly couples looking as though they were going to a wedding or young families going on a weekend outing.

This was not the first time I was noticing such a phenomenon. Stuck in traffic en route the first post 13th general election rally in Kelana Jaya, I could not help but spot young girls in hot pants running towards the stadium in their platform sandals.

Beyond amazement of how one could run in platform sandals, I wondered: Who are these people, and why, unlike their counterparts in 2010, aren't they ready to do battle?

I spoke to a few at Thursday's rally to find out.

Carmen and friend, 20s, "labour"

We're here because the GST will bring prices up higher because it is a consumption tax. We will have to pay for it all, not the businessmen who get to claim back the tax paid (in the production line).

We are labour, and this is labour day. Our salaries have not go up, we want the government to hear us.

(When asked why they are dressed like they're going for a beach party:)

We don't care. We don't care about what they will do to us. We don't care if the police does anything to us, as long as this would help cancel the GST.

Albert Retinum, 57, businessman

We are from Penang. My family and I are in Kuala Lumpur to visit a sick relative and we found out about the rally, so we decided to attend it and see it for ourselves.

The rakyat is not doing well, they are already poor, and this tax will make them even poorer.

Seven of us are here today. What can they do to us? There are thousands here, will they put us all in lock ups?

Elena and friends, 20s

We help with the (pro-Pakatan Rakyat) blog King Jason, but we cannot give you our names (for fear of repercussions at work).

We have been to Bersih rallies before and we don't expect trouble.

(They just giggled demurely when asked why they're dressed so pretty)

Annie Tong, clerk (who looks like she's in ther late 20s, but is shy about her age)

My first demonstration was the one against Lynas. After that I drove to Penang from Kuala Lumpur to attend the Bersih rally there.

I usually come with my neighbour, who is bigger, so he can protect me, although I feel it is safe as there are many people here.

I am here today because I just do not agree with the GST. Prices are too high, salaries are not going up, it's a very pitiful situation.

Ng Lee Yeng, 33, businesswoman

This is my first demonstration. I came with a group of about 20 people. The response is out of my expectations.

I am not a party member. I came because I want to say no to the GST. Cost of living is already so high, why do we need to be taxed more?

I will go to more demonstrations, if it something which meets with my principles.

Ikram, 23 (and friends)

We arrived on a bus from Pahang this morning. We're here because we want to remember the contributions of the leftist movement in fighting for labour rights.

I am also a rubber tapper, the price of rubber is low so this tax if it raises prices of goods, it will make things harder for us.

The first time we demonstrated was for the 901 demonstrations. (Referring to his two friends) these guys were my juniors in school so I'm introducing them to this."

(Asked why he chose such the slogan 'F**k GST' for his placard, he replies: "I wanted to go against the current")

But the evolution, or indeed, the mainstreaming of demonstrations in the past years did not sit too well with the more hardcore among the protestors.

Geng Kotak aka Antifa (who later got into scuffles with media)

We're all friends from Facebook, and we decided to come today, but the PAS Unit Amal blocked us from joining just now just because we were not marching with them from the designated spots earlier.

We're apolitical youths and we came here to protest the GST. Damn, if we went to work today we would have been paid triple the rate but we're here, and instead they're making us hear political speeches.

They need to know that there is such as thing as a third force, beyond politics.

What's the point of coming here to rally for a few hours and then going home? Do you think the GST will be removed because of it?

It's time for a stronger action. We're not talking about violence here. We're talking about occupying this place until the GST is canned.

Will we do it? Sure, but when we succeed you know who will come to us then? (Pointing to the political speeches) Those guys. What kind of b******t is that?"

For the veteran among them, however, says it is about staying the course.

Mohd Noordin, 64

The first demonstration I attended was in 1998 and I am here today because I want to be a loyal citizen in the right way, by following my principles and fighting on humanitarian grounds.