BLACK-clad young protesters gathered for a sit-in outside Kuala Lumpur City Hall today, after they were prevented by police from entering Dataran Merdeka where they had planned to stage a protest.

The young people grouped at Jalan Tun Perak before marching at 11.30am towards Dataran Merdeka, where they would demand the resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the full restoration of Parliament and a loan repayment moratorium for all.

The event, organised by youth coalition Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR), is held while a movement control order is in effect in Kuala Lumpur to curb the Covid-19 epidemic.

Earlier, protest leaders tried to persuade police to allow the group into  Dataran Merdeka but were denied.

By 11.50am, the group had grown to more than a thousand strong, many of them carrying banners and placards. Effigies wrapped in the traditional Muslim white shroud were displayed to symbolise the Covid-19 dead.

On the placards, the Perikatan Nasional government was called “kerajaan pembunuh”, or murderous government, in reference to its handling of the Covid-19 crisis which has claimed 8,859 lives in Malaysia.

Police did not try to disperse the crowd but they watched the protesters with the aid of a surveillance drone while a helicopter hovered above.

As shouts of “Lawan, lawan!” (Fight, fight!) and “Tolak Muhyiddin” (reject Muhyiddin) were heard from the protesters seated on the ground, cops and marshals in hard hats responded with reminders to keep masks on and social distance.

A youth, who identified himself as Arief, said he was protesting because the government has “failed in handling the Covid-19 situation”.

“They are refusing to account for their actions, which has led to thousands of deaths, a worsening economy, and loss of jobs. I think they are more concerned about their position and power than they are about the rakyat. They are just power hungry,” the 28-year-old said.

Former Batu MP Chua Tian Chang was present to “show solidarity” with the youth.

“It’s good to see the younger generation are taking a big step to voice their demands. The country is now in crisis and the government that is in place should take full responsibility for it,” said the PKR politician.

Qyira Yusri, co-founder of Undi18, said today’s protest gave a voice to young people, who have been ignored by the government.

“Since the pandemic started, the politicians in the government has not spoken up for us. The current government is extremely unstable,  which is why we urge them to step down,” she said.

Kerssugen, 31, said the government has lost the trust and confidence of the people. 

“That alone is more than enough for them to step down. They should not cling to power after having performed terribly over the past year,” he said.

Twenty-four-year old Nasir Ahmed, said he strongly felt the need for Muhyiddin to step down.

“That is our main demand today.”

On whether he feared catching Covid-19 in a large crowd, Nasir said he was vaccinated and that he had also taken a health test recently.

The protesters sang the national anthem at 12.17pm. Police, using loudhailers, ordered the group to break up 12.35pm. – July 31, 2021.