KUALA LUMPUR – In an apparent attempt to put a damper on the planned #Lawan demonstration against the government at Dataran Merdeka here, the authorities this morning blocked entry to vehicles around the square.
However, protesters were allowed to march on, with police monitoring the situation.
Cops yesterday warned protest organisers, saying action will be taken against anyone found to be violating the standard operating procedures.
The Vibes brings you live updates from the ground:
1.10pm: Demonstrators disperse.
12.59pm: A Bar Council representative tells reporters that over 50 lawyers are present to observe the protest.
12.35pm: Asraf orders the crowd to disperse. He thanks participants for heeding the SOPs, and police for their assistance.
12.30pm: Asraf Sharafi of SSR demands Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation.
He also calls for a blanket moratorium without conditions for all Malaysians, and the full resumption of Parliament.
12:18PM - The crowd rises to sing Negaraku. pic.twitter.com/RwVOuWJ8Qb
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) July 31, 2021
12.17pm: Protest organisers lead the crowd in singing Negaraku.
12.07pm: According to rally organiser Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) the turnout is now 1,000 strong.
11.58am: Protest organisers order participants to sit on the road opposite the Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters.
11.44am: A low-flying helicopter hovers above protesters, as well as a drone used by police to monitor the crowd.
11.39am: Police are seen with jammers, which are devices used to block cellphone signals.
11.34am: Police allow protesters to go past the roadblock to enter Dataran Merdeka, saying “we give and take”.
11:05AM - Protestors chant 'Hidup rakyat', 'tolak penindasan', and reiterate their demand for prime minister @MuhyiddinYassin to resign. pic.twitter.com/SrhBhlF5LO
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) July 31, 2021
11.25am: The crowd begins moving towards Dataran Merdeka, chanting slogans. Cars passing by honk in support of the movement.
11.22am: The crowd has grown to over 300, with more demonstrators filing in.
Traffic police close off Jalan Tun Perak to vehicles, and a helicopter is seen flying overhead.
11.15am: Mock corpses, symbolising the high death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic, are laid out on the ground by demonstrators.
11.11am: Muda co-founder Amir Abd Hadi arrives at the Masjid Jamek LRT station. Also seen arriving are Malaysian Human Rights Commission and Malaysian Bar observers.
11.02am: PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, arrives at the Masjid Jamek LRT station and heads towards #Lawan protesters.
Protest organisers negotiate with police for more time to be allowed for the rally, as cops call for the event to end early.
10.54am: Police question Misi Solidariti activist Muhammad Alshatri Abdullah at the Masjid Jamek LRT station.
10.51am: Protesters start chanting “hidup rakyat” (long live the people) at the Masjid Jamek LRT station as police tell them to maintain physical distancing.
Protest “marshals” in white hats carry out crowd control, ensuring demonstrators observe social distancing.
10.15am: Some 30 protesters are seen gathering at the Masjid Jamek light rail transit station. Police then arrive and order them to disperse.
Several protesters wearing white hats, understood to be tasked with controlling the crowd, are also seen arriving. – The Vibes, July 31, 2021
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