On New Year's Eve, Harapan on receiving end of anti-gov't protest

Some 150 PAS supporters took to the streets on New Year's Eve tonight to protest over what they claimed is the rising cost of living under the new Pakatan Harapan government.

Opposition protests on New Year's Eve have become a common sight in recent years, the biggest of which was the "Turun" (Reduce) protest on the eve of New Year's Day 2014 that drew some 10,000 people.

That protest, which saw the participation of leaders who are now in government, was also against the rising cost of living.

On the New Year's Eve last year, about 500 people marched from Sogo shopping complex to Dataran Merdeka to express disappointment with the then BN government.

Tonight, despite the torrential downpour, PAS Youth led by its chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi, continued the tradition, criticising their once allies who are now part of the Harapan government.

"Tonight, we hold solidarity with the farmers, settlers, the government servants as well as employees from private agencies.

"Nine months after Harapan took over, we have witnessed how they have deceived and betrayed the people.

"Have the petrol price gone down? No. PTPTN abolished? No. GST abolished? They did but they replaced it with SST.

"Harapan had deceived the people and they should return the power to the people. In 2019, we don't know what else will they lie to the people," Khalil told the crowd in front of the Sogo shopping complex.

With him, a group of seven men were seen demonstrating gimmicks with their hands tied which symbolised the beleaguered citizens.

Before Khalil, several representatives from PAS were seen delivering speeches to the small crowd, largely comprising of Muslimah and PAS' volunteer corps Unit Amal.

Many of them took shelter under the roof along the entrance to the shopping centre, while some were outside holding their umbrellas.

The gathering dispersed at about 10pm after Khalil wrapped up his speech. - Mkini