[UPDATED] Black flags fly in city centre as #Lawan rally takes to road

KUALA LUMPUR – In an effort to keep the black flag movement going, a small convoy of cars drove through the city centre today as part of the #Lawan demonstration organised by Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR).

Starting at 11.30am, the convoy of 10 cars made its way from the Bangsar LRT station to Dataran Merdeka as Dang Wangi police and Tun HS Lee traffic police remained on standby throughout.

Some plainclothesmen were also spotted following the convoy while other police cars were helping redirect traffic.

Aside from waving black flags – some bearing the words #KerajaanGagal – drivers also honked as they drove. Most of them had two in a car.

It is understood that the protesters attempted to drive past Dataran Merdeka for a second time, but were stopped by traffic police on duty.

When asked about the low turnout, SSR spokesman Mohd Asraf Sharafi Mohd Azhar said: “more will come”, adding that “this is just a warm up for July 31”.

On Wednesday, SSR called for the “Keluar dan #Lawan” (come out and fight) protest on July 31 to oppose “a government that is not qualified to lead the country”.

The time and venue of the rally will be announced at a later date.

Earlier this month, SSR was behind a rally at Dataran Merdeka that saw 14 black flags raised under the shadow of the Jalur Gemilang.

The following day, three members of the youth coalition, including Asraf, were hauled up by police and fined RM2,000 each for allegedly violating Regulation 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021, which prohibits gatherings.

In less than a week, the fundraising campaign launched by SSR has collected enough to pay the fines. – The Vibes, July 24, 2021