KUALA LUMPUR: An estimated 2,000 people gathered for the Anti-GST Rally here today, enduring temperatures of up to 36 degrees celcius as they congregated in Dataran Merdeka.
Protesters thronged the square, walking in from Jalan Sultan, Central Market, Sogo and Kampung Baru at 3pm.
Some protesters came with young children in tow and breached the barricade at the intersection of Jalan Raja and Jalan Tun Perak.
Police gave way to the crowd, overwhelmed by the numbers.
The crowd from Jalan Sultan was led by the Democratic Action Party's Socialist Youth branch. Meanwhile, the group at Central Market were led by Pakatan vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.
A crowd of about 100 people from Sogo arrived at Dataran Merdeka at around 3pm, and merged with the other groups.
Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu, better known as Mat Sabu led the group.
The party's youth chief Sany Hamzan also led another 300 rally goers to Dataran Merdeka at the same time.
The march caused traffic to slow to a crawl along Jalan Sultan, Jalan Tun HS Lee, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Raja Abdullah, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman heading to the square.
The crowd chanted anti-GST as well as ‘Bebas Anwar’ slogans.
Numerous makeshift stalls selling anti-GST themed paraphernalia sprouted along the route to Dataran Merdeka.
Items for sale included sunglasses, anti-GST T-shirts, drinks and ice cream.
A police officer on the ground said there were 200 officers on standby.
This includes traffic and auxiliary police officers.
There were also a number of City Hall enforcers.Opposition leaders addressed the crowd at Dataran Merdeka from 3.15pm.
Reporting by Veena Babulal, Farezza Hanum Rashid, Zahratulhayat Mat Arif and Faisal Asyraf. NEW STREET TIMES
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