STUDENT groups will be hitting the streets once again this Saturday to protest against the government’s inability to handle the rising cost of living.

In a statement, Jawatankuasa Turun, which is organising the protest, said they would be gathering at 2pm at the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur.

They issued five demands: for ministers’ salaries to be cut, subsidies to be kept, prices of goods to be controlled, assistance distributed to the people, and a resolution to food security issues.

“We have no choice but to protest so that the government does not underestimate this problem,” the organisers said.

The group also said it has been 22 days since Prime Minister Ismail Sabri announced the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation but they have failed to address the problem.

“Apart from visiting the morning market and grocery stores, all members of this team who are also cabinet members do not have effective new ideas to control the increase in prices of goods and channel aid to the people.

“The prime minister’s announcement to increase aid to Malaysians by between RM50 and RM100 does not uphold the dignity of Malaysians who have to fast to ensure that children at home don’t go hungry,” they said.

The statement added that at a time when the people are being pressured with low salaries and rising prices of goods, a minister still receives a salary of between RM64,000 and RM90,000 a month.

“This shows that most politicians are out of touch with reality. We have no choice but to protest once again,” the group said.

Earlier this month, about 200 students and members of civil society groups turned up at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur to protest.

The students were demanding salary cuts for ministers and their deputies, providing adequate aid to the people, maintaining the current subsidies and not reducing any other subsidies, solving food security issues, and controlling prices of goods and food.

Student bodies then said if the government fails to listen to their demands then they will organise another protest in the weeks to come.

However last week, police advised public not to participate in any rallies and flash mobs that did not comply with the conditions under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said his men would take stern action against organisers who hold such rallies, as well as participants who failed to comply with the law. – July 21, 2022.