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The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Rakyat air their concerns
Exercising their right: Protesters gathering during the Turun Anwar rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Crowds gathered at five major points in the capital city, calling for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to step down as Prime Minister as they voiced their discontent over his leadership. Despite the rain and haze, the demonstrators grouped at Sogo shopping mall, Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad and Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru before marching to Dataran Merdeka. The grievances at the Turun Anwar rally yesterday ranged from 'dishonoured promises' to taxes, and what they deemed were failed reforms and political intimidation by the government. Chants of 'Turun Anwar' were heard in Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Chinese. Among those who addressed the rally was former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He challenged Anwar to take him to court if he is wrong in the Batu Puteh issue. 'This country has courts, judges and public prosecutors. But Anwar did not use these,' he said. 'You are not a judge, you are a prime minister. You cannot decide who is guilty. Only the judges can determine whether I am wrong or not,' he said. Dr Mahathir spoke of how he had resigned from office when he lost the support of his party, not even the people. Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin accused Anwar of not being mindful to the plight of Malaysians. 'The value of the ringgit has dropped but the cost of goods has gone up,' he said. Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the rally was an early signal that the Anwar administration would fall. Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin warned that more assemblies would come. 'We do not want RM100, Anwar. We want Anwar to step down,' he said, referring to the cash aid announced on Wednesday. PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said they had gathered 'to take down a leader who has not fulfilled his promises'. Among the attendees was restaurant manager Mohd Amri Ismadi, who drove from Ipoh. 'Everyday has been a struggle, especially in recent years. We are expected to tighten our belt. 'Do we have to cut corners until we lose what remains of our modest life?' said Mohd Amri, who is in his 30s. Store keeper Shamsul Safawi, 55, who attended the rally despite being unwell, said he wanted to add to the show of the people's discontent. 'What is most upsetting is the empty promises. I feel it is best he steps down and let other leaders take over, ' he said.
![[Watch] Authorities Order Stage Removal At Himpunan Turun Anwar, Protesters Stage Symbolic Whipping Of PM's Effigy](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.therakyatpost.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F07%2FUntitled1-11.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[Watch] Authorities Order Stage Removal At Himpunan Turun Anwar, Protesters Stage Symbolic Whipping Of PM's Effigy](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ftherakyatpost.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Rakyat Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rakyat Post
[Watch] Authorities Order Stage Removal At Himpunan Turun Anwar, Protesters Stage Symbolic Whipping Of PM's Effigy
Subscribe to our FREE Organisers of an opposition rally were forced to dismantle their main stage at Dataran Merdeka earlier today (26 July) after authorities cited permit violations and safety concerns. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) instructed organisers of the rally to remove the stage hours before the 'Himpunan Turun Anwar' rally by Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition was scheduled to begin. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said the organisers had not obtained proper authorisation to build the stage and failed to inform police about who would be using it. 'The initial agreement between police and organisers was to use two four-wheel drive vehicles as a platform,' he said. PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden expressed frustration over what he called conflicting instructions from authorities. Writing on 'When we finished setting up, they told us to take it down. Yesterday they said one thing, this morning they said another. Is this planned provocation?' he questioned. Rally Continues Despite Setback Despite the stage controversy, the demonstration proceeded as planned with protesters converging at Dataran Merdeka from multiple starting points, including a group that marched from Masjid Jamek. Rally leaders announced that participants would perform their afternoon prayers at the main gathering point while waiting for others to arrive from different locations. At Central Market, another group of protesters held prayers using cloth banners as makeshift prayer mats before beginning their march at 2 pm. In one interesting scene, protesters gathered around an effigy covered with a white cloth and Anwar's face plastered on it. A protester whipped it with a rotan on the 'butt', drawing cheers from the surrounding crowd. Depa sebat bontot anwar hahahahahahahahahahah — Glasgow smile (@KLHC88) Business Continues As Normal The large gathering did not significantly disrupt commercial activities in the area. Shopping centres, including Sogo, Pertama Complex and Campbell Complex, remained open to the public. While Sogo's main entrance was closed, shoppers could still enter through side doors. Small vendors took advantage of the crowd, setting up stalls along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman to sell drinks, 'Turun Anwar' T-shirts and noise-makers to rally participants. As of noon, approximately 2,000 protesters were present at Dataran Merdeka, marking a notable difference from the atmosphere during previous large-scale political demonstrations in the capital. Walaupun kat social berdegar degar semangat tapi mungkin deep down orang rasa Anwar takde la teruk gila untuk diorang turun ke jalan. Sebab aku pun fikir benda yang sama. 😂 — FÈRD 🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@dauspozi) Parts of this story have been sourced from Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Traffic at Jalan Dang Wangi paralysed as ‘Turun Anwar' rally crowd swells
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — Traffic at Jalan Dang Wangi has come to a stand still due to the sizable crowd protesting against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership. Thousands of protestors dressed predominantly in black are gathered in front of Sogo supermarket and Pertama Complex causing a traffic jam. PAS leaders like Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh were seen giving speeches to rally the crowd, calling for Anwar's immediate resignation. Nik said Anwar reneged on all his promises and is causing investors to shy away from Malaysia stagnating the economy. Several vendors were sighted selling T-shirts with the slogans 'Turun Anwar', 'subsidi hapus' and 'mungkir janji' — which translate to 'Step Down Anwar', 'subsidies abolished' and 'broken promises' respectively. Vendors sell T-shirts with the slogans 'Turun Anwar', which translate to 'Step Down Anwar' during rally in Kuala Lumpur July 26, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif. As speeches continued the crowd kept swelling up. At Dataran Merdeka crowds are starting to grow as well. According to PAS Youth who are coordinating the crowds, they will start marching to Dataran Merdeka at 1pm. The protest has so far remained peaceful, with a heavy police presence observed throughout the area.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Anwar says he won't attend July 26 rally because he wasn't invited
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he will not be attending the "Turun Anwar" rally because he was not invited. The Prime Minister said this to reporters when asked if he would be attending the protest at the heart of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (July 26). 'Well, I was not invited,' replied Anwar when met after delivering his closing remarks at the end of the 50th edition of the Prime Ministers' Cup Debate Competition. Over 2,000 policemen are stationed at key gathering points, including the Sogo shopping mall, Masjid Jamek, Masjid Negara and Pasar Seni to maintain security during the rally. The protesters are expected to march to Dataran Merdeka at 2pm. During his closing remarks at the event, Anwar urged political leaders not to use religion as a way to insult others. 'We can differ in opinion and be firm in our ideas, but we should not insult, curse or humiliate, what more use the Islam label for this purpose,' he said. Anwar said he was proud of the quality of student debates, saying that the students from Form 3 to 5 have set a new benchmark for debates. 'They are strict, but were polite and did not insult. These qualities should be learnt by our MPs in Parliament,' quipped Anwar. Anwar also said he had a packed schedule after returning from Kedah on Friday (July 25) night, and he was set to meet several Islamic scholars, including British musician Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, at the Prime Minister's official residence. 'But, I said it is okay, because I want to see our youths debating and I am very proud,' added Anwar.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Rally participants converge at Dataran Merdeka
Photo: IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Rally goers started converging at Dataran Merdeka for the 'Turun Anwar' rally as early as 11.40am on Saturday (July 26). Protesters were seen clad in black Turun Anwar T-shirts. Some were even seen with Turun Anwar flags. Protesters from various gathering points such as the Sogo shopping mall, Masjid Jamek, Masjid Negara, and Pasar Seni are set to converge at Dataran Merdeka at 2pm. Chants of Turun Anwar! Bangkit Rakyat! were heard at several protest points. Unhappy with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim administration's performance, the protesters are calling on the premier to step down. Children and differently able individuals were also seen at the gathering points. Politicians including former prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin are expected to deliver speeches at around 4.45pm. Other prominent figures expected to deliver speeches from 3pm onwards include PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Wanita Perikatan Nasional chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau and Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
