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People's Uprising rally

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People's Uprising Rally, 2013
Supporter of opposition leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat of PAS.
Date12 January 2013
Location
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Parties
Opposition members
Government of Malaysia
Number
100,000 to 150,000 people

The People's Uprising rally or Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (Malay) was a rally that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 12 January 2013. The rally was held by various Malaysian opposition friendly non-governmental organisations and opposition parties in opposition to many of the government policies and decisions that have been claimed by left wing supporters to be unfair and affecting the Malaysian populace. The main venue which the organisers have chosen for the rally is Stadium Merdeka. The event was also known as the KL 112 rally, where the numbers indicate the date of the event.[1][2]

Background

According to social activist and icon Hishamuddin Rais, the grievances against the government are many and varied[3] The following lists of grouses:

  • The scrapping of the rare-earth refinery run by Lynas in Kuantan, Pahang.
  • To fight against cheating in the general elections by the Malaysian government.
  • The fair distribution of oil-royalty payments by the Malaysian government to oil producing states.
  • Free education for all Malaysians.

The election watchdog group Bersih which organised a number of rallies calling for electoral reform in Malaysia namely the rallies in the Bersih rallies in 2011 and 2012 has revealed that it is not amongst the organisers of the latest rally but has said that many of members will be attending the rally on their own capacity.

The opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat has made a 10-point declaration:[4][5]

  • Free and fair elections
  • Saving Felda
  • Restoring the rights of Sabah and Sarawak
  • Increasing the oil royalty to petroleum producing states to 20%
  • Safeguarding the future of the civil servants
  • A clean and healthy environment
  • Strengthening the national language and mother tongues
  • Freeing of all political detainees
  • Preserving the Malaysia's national heritage
  • Better living standards for women

Lead up to the rally

Government and police measures

The police have advised the organisers of the rally to hold the rally in Bukit Jalil stadium instead of having it in Stadium Merdeka.[6]

In anticipation of the protests the government began the closure of Dataran Merdeka to prevent protesters from gathering at that location.[7]

The government has also warned against civil servants from attending the rally.[8]

Various public universities in Malaysia echoed the government's warning telling students and teachers not to attend the rally.[9][10]

The government-controlled mainstream media gave scant coverage on the rally.[11]

Chronology

This is the chronology of the people's uprising rally 2013 or (KL112) that was held in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Saturday 12 January 2013.[12] (Chronology sorted from down to upward)

  • 4.50 pm: The rally was ended with the singing of the National Anthem Negaraku.
  • 4.45 pm: Recitation of the Muslim prayer by PAS Spiritual Advisor Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat
  • 4.40 pm: The declaration of the rally by Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
  • 4.15 pm: The Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave his speech. Anwar ended his speech, shouting "Merdeka" 7 times in a row. The crowd ensues.[13]
  • 3.35 pm: DAP Secretary, Lim Guan Eng gave his speech.
  • 3.13 pm: National Laureate Datuk A. Samad Said recite the poem titled 'Di atas Padang Sejarah' or 'On The Field Of History'.
  • 3.06 pm: Blues Gang vocalist, Ito sing the anthem of the rally 'Ubah Sekarang'.
  • 2.45 pm: DAP Chairman, Karpal Singh; DAP Secretary, Lim Guan Eng dan DAP Adviser, Lim Kit Siang arrived at the stadium.
  • 2.38 pm: Arrival of the Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Stadium Merdeka.
  • 2.11 pm: PAS President, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS Secretary, Datuk Mustafa Ali arrived at Stadium Merdeka.
  • 2.07 pm: The arrival of Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
  • 2.03 pm: Safwan Anang student activist giving his speech. He states that all students should use everything in their power to abolish PTPTN loans and University and College Act 1971 be repelled by the government.
  • 1.51 pm: 40,000 participant entered Stadium merdeka. PAS Vice-President giving his speech.
  • The event starts with the singing of Negaraku.
  • 1.24 pm: Some of the Muslim participant are seen to be doing their Zohor prayers. The sounds of the Vuvuzela filled the stadium .
  • 1.17 pm: Participants from Sultan Road continue their way to the Stadium Merdeka.
  • 1.14 pm: Fuziah Salleh gave a speech in front of spectators in the National Basket Ball Stadium. In her speech, she said, the rally was organised to uphold the agenda of the opposition.
  • 1.00 pm: Participant were ask by the opposition to sit on the road side near the Basket Ball Stadium.
  • 12.52 mid day: The participant of PUR 2013 moving up to the Stadium Merdeka.
  • 12.45 mid day: Opposition leaders and non-governmental organisation leaders gave speeches in front of spectators before moving on to the Stadium Merdeka.
  • 12.15 mid day:Dr. Tan Seng Giaw Kepong MP arrived at Sultan Road.
  • 12.10 mid day: Unit Amal PAS (PAS Security Body) were waiting in Little India, Brickfields to combine with protesters that came from Amcorp Mall before going to Stadium Merdeka.
  • 12.08 mid day: The Green Rally President, Wong Tack giving his speech to protesters on Sultan Road.
  • 12.02 mid day: The protesters in Sultan Road sing together the traditional song "Rasa Sayang"
  • 11.14, morning: A group of protesters pass by the Maybank Building in Bangsar.
  • 11.25 morning: PKR Vice-President, Fuziah Salleh arrived on Sultan Road.
  • 10.35 morning: Amcorp Mall protesters meet with protesters in Universiti Malaya.
  • 10.20 morning:The participant are entering the Federal Highway Kuala Lumpur.
  • 10.05 morning: PAS Security Wing patrolling Sultan Road.
  • 10.05 morning: Participant set out to Universiti Malaya (UM) while holding hands.

Non-governmental organisations

The Malaysian human rights watchdog Suhakam and the Malaysian Bar Council will be monitoring the rally. The Bar Council will be sending in a team of lawyers to anyone who needs legal assistances should they be arrested by the police.[14] Former Bar Council president K Ragunath criticised the Bar Council for showing a tendency to support the opposition.[15]

Protests

There were fears by a Malaysian NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) that there would be some provocations by the police during the demonstration.[16] After the rally ended, the PDRM or the Malaysian Royal Police was praised as they shown tremendous amount of patience and restraint.

Participants taking a rest.

According to different estimates there were about 100,000 to 150,000 people who attended the rally, which was quite peaceful compared the previous rallies.[17][18][19] Many of the rally goers gathered at various points of the city before making their way to Stadium Merdeka where the rally organisers conducted a number of speeches in support of their ideals.[20][21]

A rally participant.

Aftermath

The police was commended for the way they handled the rally by both government as well as opposition leaders and from the general public.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Kudos to cops and KL112 rally". The Star (Malaysia). 14 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  2. ^ "The winners and losers in KL112 - Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  3. ^ Malaysia. "January rally to go on even without permit, says activist". The Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  4. ^ To, Queville (12 January 2013). "Pakatan makes 10-point demand". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  5. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  7. ^ To, Queville (11 January 2013). "Dataran closed ahead of rally, no FRU deployment". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  8. ^ Malaysia. "Civil servants advised against joining the rally tomorrow". The Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  12. ^ MStar Online - Kronologi Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat
  13. ^ Harakahdaily.net - Kejayaan himpunan lambang kebangkitan rakyat
  14. ^ To, Queville (11 January 2013). "Suhakam, Bar Council to monitor rally". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  15. ^ To, Queville (23 June 2012). "'The Bar Council is way above its S'pore counterpart'". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  16. ^ To, Queville (12 January 2013). "Fear of agent provocateurs". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  17. ^ To, Queville (12 January 2013). "100,000 rally ends peacefully". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  18. ^ "Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  19. ^ "Politweet says 150k at rally but assumes Stadium only houses 30k, meeting pts not included". Malaysia-chronicle.com. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  20. ^ "Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Police successfully deploy new management method to maintain order during rally - Nation | The Star Online". Thestar.com.my. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Instead of brickbats, police praised for restraint at rally". The Malaysian Insider. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.

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