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Daily Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
LIVE: I'm not attending rally, says Tian Chua
Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar, Yee Suet Mun, FMT Text Size: Kuala Lumpur: What started as a protest against the planned Urban Renewal Act (URA) quickly shifted to a rally at Dataran Merdeka demanding for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister. According to the organisers, PAS Youth, 300,000 participants are expected today, but police estimates put it at 10,000 to 15,000. Stay tuned as FMT's Afizi Ismail, Andrea Edmonds, Anne Muhammad, Hizami Safri, Moganraj Villavan, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar and Yee Suet Mun bring you live coverage of the protest. 2.06pm – Tian Chua skipping rally Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua said he will not be attending today's rally, although he was slated to speak at Dataran Merdeka around 3.15pm based on a schedule sent by organisers. 'I'm not going to the rally although the organiser sent me an invitation,' he told FMT. 1.45pm – Gerakan leader addresses crowd in Mandarin At Dataran Merdeka, a rather amusing scene cropped up as a Gerakan leader started addressing the crowd, who are mostly Malay, in Mandarin. Malaysiakini reported that the protesters were in the dark as to what he was saying in his speech, but still shouted in support while all smiles. 1.38pm – Over 3,500 protesters at Sogo Policemen estimate that over 3,500 protesters are gathered at Sogo, though rally-goers claim that there are nearly 10,000 of them. They will begin moving towards Dataran Merdeka at about 2.30pm. 1.37pm – PN has capable leaders Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said no prime minister is 'irreplaceable'. He claimed that Perikatan Nasional, the coalition his party is a component of, has capable leaders, but did not name anyone in particular. 1.32pm – From Bersih to 'Turun Anwar' with kids in tow Zulaikha Zaidi, 29, from Muar, Johor, had brought her three children, aged four, eight and 11, to the rally but said this was not her first time bringing her child to such an assembly. She said she had also attended the Bersih 5 rally in 2016 with her eldest child, who was a year and a half at the time. Zulaikha acknowledged that the law did not allow parents to bring children under the age of 15 to rallies, but said this was to give them 'experience'. She said she had no one else who could look after them while she was at the rally. 1.25 pm – Organisers had no permission to set up stage at Dataran Merdeka Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said the rally's organisers did not apply for any permit to set up a temporary stage at Dataran Merdeka. The stage has since been removed by DBKL. He said there were safety concerns over the stage's structure, adding that there was no indication as to how many people would be on the stage at any one time. 'The earlier agreement between the police and the organisers was that two Toyota Hiluxes would be used as a 'stage',' he said in a brief statement to the media. 1.10pm – Business opportunities at rally Under the scorching sun near Sogo, a group of teenagers found a way to show support and make some pocket money by selling cold drinks. The three friends, all aged about 17, set up a roadside stall with nine large jars of different beverages, selling the drinks at RM5 a cup. 'It's really hot today, so we thought people would definitely want a cold drink,' said one of the teenagers, known only as Aidil. Another group of friends – four to five men in their 40s – took the opportunity to sell t-shirts and headbands at RM20 and RM5, respectively. One of them, who introduced himself simply as AG, said they were here to 'do business and call for the prime minister to step down'. 12.58pm – I wasn't invited, says Anwar Met at an event in Putrajaya, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim quipped that he will not be attending today's rally as he was not invited by the organisers. 'I wasn't invited,' he said briefly when asked by reporters. 12:55pm – Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan addresses crowd at Sogo Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan reminded the protesters of their right to assemble and to free speech, which was guaranteed under the Peaceful Assembly Act and the Federal Constitution. Takiyuddin, who is the PAS secretary-general, also reassured the crowd at Sogo that today's assembly was legitimate as they had informed the authorities about the gathering much earlier. He thanked the police for facilitating the rally and for keeping the peace. Takiyuddin also called on the protesters to make citizen arrests if they come across those who incite violence and hand them over to the police. 'We need to ensure that the rally does not breach any law or violate the constitution,' he said. 12.54pm – Masjid Jamek protesters start marching to Dataran Protesters gather outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad have started marching to Dataran Merdeka, while those at Sogo are expected to start moving at about 2pm. 12.46pm – Family on holiday turns up for rally Met at the rally, Mohamad Zaini from Kedah said he and his family were supposed to be in KL for a short holiday and to attend his wife's convocation ceremony. 'It so happened that the rally is taking place while we are in town, so we decided to come and support,' said Mohamad, who was accompanied by his wife and their two children, aged 10 and eight. 12.42pm – Over 2,000 gather at Masjid Jamek More than 2,000 protesters have gathered outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, according to estimates by policemen. During the speeches, one protester on a megaphone said they were there 'not to terrorise anyone but for the rakyat's voice to be heard', drawing cheers from other rally-goers. 12.12pm – 'Hidup Rakyat', 'Turun Anwar' chants ring out Chants of 'Hidup Rakyat' and 'Turun Anwar' have started ringing out from Sogo and Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad. The protesters were informed that they will start marching to Dataran Merdeka at 1pm. Using a megaphone, one protester said they were all gathering 'from Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak to call for Anwar to step down'. Attendees were spotted wearing black t-shirts listing various grievances with the government, including the expanded sales and service tax, the URA, and the apparent lack of reforms implemented by the government. 11:55am – Crowd continues to swell The number of participants gathered continues to swell, with about 1,000 now gathered outside Sogo. The atmosphere remains lively, with traders selling 'Turun Anwar' merchandise like headbands, t-shirts, fans and stickers. Some protesters were seen with their children in tow too. The Peaceful Assembly Act prohibits bringing a child to protests. PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was spotted outside Sogo briefing the party's volunteer corps, Unit Amal, which has been tasked with crowd control for the rally. At Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, more than 300 people have gathered. One participant who resides in Bangsar said the reason he was participating in the rally was to show the government that it 'cannot just do whatever it likes'. 'They made a lot of promises before this but they have not been fulfilled,' he said. 11.45am – DBKL seizes stage meant for rally Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has confiscated a stage and equipment that were set up at Dataran Merdeka this morning for the rally. In a Facebook post, PAS member Nurul Islam Yusoff criticised the authorities, saying party workers had started setting up the stage at 3am. PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden claimed the authorities had agreed to allow them to set up the stage yesterday. 11am – Hundreds gather at 5 meeting points Hundreds of rally-goers have started to gather at five meeting points around the city centre, namely Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex. The atmosphere at Sogo is more lively but there are fewer protesters outside Masjid Negara. PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah was among those spotted at the rally so far. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Over 400 Bar members gather for judicial independence walk
Published on: Monday, July 14, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 14, 2025 By: Natalie Chan, Elill Easwaran, FMT Text Size: Rally participants at the Palace of Justice, preparing to proceed to the Prime Minister's Office. PUTRAJAYA: Over 400 members of the Malaysian Bar gathered outside the Palace of Justice this afternoon for a symbolic march to defend the integrity of the judiciary. Dressed in black suits and white shirts, the lawyers held up placards and chanted slogans before commencing their walk to the Prime Minister's Office at 2.30pm. Notable figures spotted at the rally included former Bar presidents Ambiga Sreenevasan and Karen Cheah, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, Pendang MP Awang Hashim, former attorney-general Tommy Thomas and former Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim. The rally was organised following the Bar's call for the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry into alleged interference in judicial appointments, which the legal body says poses a serious threat to the doctrine of separation of powers and the rule of law. Participants began assembling at 2pm, preparing to proceed to the Prime Minister's Office where they are expected to hand over a memorandum outlining their concerns and demands. The memorandum's four demands include having judicial leadership positions filled by judges of integrity with proven track records of quality and clear judgments; and having multiple vacancies in the judiciary filled up quickly to prevent delays to the hearing of court cases. The Judicial Appointments Commission has listed 31 vacancies which have yet to be filled, including the posts vacated by former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and former Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, both of whom retired earlier this month. Besides the top two posts, the Federal Court has two vacancies for judges while the Court of Appeal has three and the High Court, 24. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Express
DBKL aims for 70% of residents to use public transport by 2040
Published on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 By: Natalie Chan, FMT Text Size: The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan has a strong focus on the city's public transport network, said mayor Maimunah Sharif. Kuala Lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (PTKL) aims for 70% of the public to be using public transport by 2040, says city mayor Maimunah Sharif. This is in conjunction with PTKL 2040's primary goal of shaping Kuala Lumpur into an all-inclusive 'green' city. In particular, DBKL aims to implement an efficient, low-carbon mobility system city-wide. With 191 initiatives outlined in the plan, PTKL's 'City for All' theme places a heavy focus on sustainability, with the development and maintenance of green spaces a key concept in its spatial planning. During a press briefing, Maimunah said DBKL might provide incentives to increase population density around transit zones where LRT or MRT stations are located. 'This is common in Japan, where people work, live, and play around transit zones. This helps lessen congestion and steers us in the direction of a low-carbon city,' she said. Much of PTKL 2040's zoning revolves around coordinating with the framework of Kuala Lumpur's railway systems, especially the upcoming MRT3 network. Advertisement PTKL aims to create a transport network that allows the public to go from place to place with a walking distance of less than 400m. There have been various public concerns regarding the accessibility of Kuala Lumpur's public transport system in recent years. Transport think tank My Mobility Vision identified first- and last-mile connectivity as one of the primary issues steering the public towards private vehicle use. Last month, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the use of public transport in Malaysia was still low at around 25%. Zahid suggested that this could be improved with a shift in user attitudes through a combination of reliable public transport systems and comprehensive awareness campaigns. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
16-06-2025
- Daily Express
Residents to take DBKL to court to preserve playground, police station
Published on: Monday, June 16, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 16, 2025 By: Natalie Chan, FMT Text Size: The Taman Danau Desa playground has been fenced off and is now inaccessible to the public. Kuala Lumpur: Residents of Taman Danau Desa will file a judicial review on the recently gazetted Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 in an attempt to preserve their playground and a police station, both located on land that has been rezoned for the development of condominiums. Lok Shi Shuen, who is part of a movement comprising residents from Taman Desa, said they decided to drag Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to court after their protests and petitions fell on deaf ears. Advertisement The residents of Taman Danau Desa, a neighbourhood in Taman Desa, raised concerns earlier this year about excessive development in the area. Lok, who has lived in Taman Danau Desa for 32 years, said the last straw was the move to fence up the playground, which is also home to a recycling centre and a community farm. 'Everyone was upset,' Lok told FMT, adding that the Tzu Chi recycling centre had helped raise awareness about the importance of recycling and featured a thrift shop of sorts that had attracted people from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. 'It was a nice place that allowed us to understand a bit more about sustainable practices.' According to the draft local plan, published in January last year, the Taman Danau Desa community playground was rezoned for high-rise residential developments. Less than a month before the plan was gazetted, residents discovered that the plot of land on which the police station was located had been rezoned for the development of high-rise residential homes. Lok claimed that the residents did not know they had lost their playground until two years after its alienation. She said they only realised it after the playground was fenced off in 2019, forcing the recycling centre and the community farm to cease operations in that location. 'We can't just lie down and do nothing about it. We must stand up for our green spaces and the land for our public amenities,' she said. Lok and her fellow residents hope that a 2023 ruling by the apex court will help their cause. Two years ago, the Federal Court struck out an appeal by DBKL to reinstate the proposed Taman Rimba Kiara development project. The proposed project involved a 29-storey apartment block with 350 units of affordable housing, as well as eight blocks of serviced apartments and eight storeys of parking facilities. The appellants, which included Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and developer Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd, were appealing against a decision by the Court of Appeal, handed down in 2021, in which it quashed a 2017 development order for Taman Rimba Kiara after ruling in favour of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) residents in a judicial review appeal. Lok's movement has engaged the same law firm that represented the TTDI residents, and has until Aug 28 to raise the necessary funds. 'We're not giving up, and we definitely have a chance to save our playground and our police station,' Lok said. More information on the residents' efforts is available at * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
