KUALA LUMPUR – Under the watchful eye of about 50 police officers, 14 black flags were raised under the shadow of the Jalur Gemilang by a small group of protesters at Dataran Merdeka today.
Organised by youth coalition Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR), the gathering saw demonstrators reiterating three demands: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation, an automatic loan moratorium, and for the upcoming special Parliament sitting to be more than a “briefing session” for the government.
After the statement was read out, local poet Tulangkata recited a poem.
The protesters dispersed peacefully about 3.20pm.
“The rakyat are starving and dying of Covid-19, and yet, the PM can make stupid jokes about raising blue flags,” said the statement, panning Muhyiddin’s recent remark.
Two days ago, Muhyiddin said there is no need to raise flags to ask for aid. In jest, he said: “There is no need to raise a white or black flag, (but it’s) okay to hang a blue flag.”
He was referring to the government’s efforts to provide sufficient assistance, as well as Perikatan Nasional’s colour.
The protesters repeated their call for Malaysians to wear black to demonstrate their anger and disappointment towards the government.
Referring to the viral social media hashtags #Lawan, #KerajaanGagal and #KerajaanPembunuh, SSR said “the people are tired and angry with the egotistical PN government”.
The demonstrators blamed the International Trade and Industry Ministry for the nation’s high Covid-19 caseload, pointing to factories as a primary source of infections.
During Ramadan in April, SSR held a breaking-of-fast gathering at the gates of Parliament to demand that the House reconvene and the immediate implementation of Undi18 for a lowered voting age.
Called #BukaPuasaBukaParlimen, the peaceful rally saw more than 100 attendees, with many raising placards urging an end to the emergency declared over the pandemic. – The Vibes, July 17, 2021
