KUALA LUMPUR: With an official police estimate of 4,500 participants, the anti-GST (Goods and Services Tax) rally only failed to meet their target of one million protesters, but was also ticked off as an illegal gathering for its failure to adhere to directives to hold the rally in Padang Merbok.
City police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa said police have classified the rally as an illegal gathering after the organisers brought the gathering to Jalan Ampang, disrupting traffic along the route towards the city centre from starting points at the National Mosque, Masjid Jamek, Dataran Maybank and Puduraya.
"Police gave the green light for the rally to be held only in Padang Merbok, but it was conducted in other places. They also conducted other offences, including committing vandalism, bringing children, and lighting up flares and smoke bombs," said Tajuddin.
Meanwhile in Kota Kinabalu, the Himpunan May Day failed to reach the targeted 10,000 attendance when only 220 supporters showed up to the rally.
The assembly organised by Bersih Sabah with several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations continued for about an hour just outside the premise of Padang Merdeka downtown. Additional reporting by Kristy Inus and Avila Geraldine.