ANTI-GOVERNMENT movement Gerakan Tolak Kerajaan Gagal will be taking its protests nationwide, especially to the rural areas so that more people are aware of the government’s failures.

Group spokesman Muhammad Syahmi Shamsudin, 23, said it is unnecessary to stage rallies in the capital city as people there are aware of the issues.

He said the group will be embarking on a nationwide tour of forums, ceramah and protests.

“We are now focusing on touring the country to make sure that everyone, especially in the rural areas, are aware of the failures of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He added that the group plans to highlight at least 30 issues that have risen under the Ismail administration, which turned one yesterday.

The issues include inflation, lack of jobs, and exorbitant property prices.

“The tour will also bring up the controversies surrounding the littoral combat ship project; Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki, who is alleged to own a large number of shares; allegations of the police’s connection with troll farms; and leakage of personal data.

“Today’s government has mad many failure that have affected the people. People are suffering under this government, and our priority is to pressure the government using the people’s power.

“We will be making the announcements on our roadshow soon on social media,” he added.

Syahmi said that a number of civil society movements have agreed to be part of this roadshow.

“We have discussed with all our people and NGOs about this movement, including in other states 

“All of the NGOs that we have engaged agreed to be part of this movement. We have about 10 NGOs involved.”

He also said the group was not calling for an election now but instead wanted the government to correct its mistakes.

“Election is not our focus. Our focus is for the government to take responsibility for their failures, and to explain to the people so that they are aware of the government’s flaws,” he said.

The group had initially planned to organise a protest in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday but had cancelled it as it wanted to raise more awareness with the public outside Kuala Lumpur.

“We feel we can’t do the same campaign or protests like before and this issue is so big that holding events in the city may not have the desired effect,” Syahmi said.

The group had staged several anti-government protests in Kuala Lumpur, always resulting in the police summoning the organizers and some participants for questioning. – August 27, 2022.