SOME 500 people congregated at the Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) gathering to protest against the freeing of Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from 47 court cases.PN activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard and Bersatu’s Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz addressed the crowd that was chanting “Dakwa Zahid” (charge Zahid) and “Reformati” (Reformasi has died). Some in the crowd were carrying placards of “dakwa Zahid” and chanting “tolak Zahid”.Contrary to what was thought earlier, the former UMNO Putrajaya deputy chief Tun Faisal Ismail told the crowd there is “no rally today, we are just gathering to voice our views”.They are unhappy that Zahid was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) earlier this month. The PN leaders then marched to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters to lodge a report asking for Zahid to be charged again. They were shouting “Tolak Zahid!”, “Dakwa Zahid!”, “Reformati!”, and “Beras dah mahal! (rice is expensive)”.Some reports say the crowd grew to some 1,000 people along the route from Kampung Baru to Dang Wangi, passing through the Sogo shopping complex.They were wearing the “Selamatkan Malaysia” headband sold on the streets. Despite a heavy police presence, there were no confrontation while the uniformed personnel facilitated the movement of the crowd instead.The Sogo junction once again became the centre of attention with speeches from PN and NGO leaders.
Some of the speakers credited the police for their handling of the rally. However, a barricade has been set up in front of the steps leading into the main entrance of the Sogo mall with a sign advising the public not to sit on the steps, gather or conduct any activities in the vicinity. – Sept 16, 2023
