MBs and MPs expected at July 6 rally
A number of the Pakatan Rakyat’s mentri besars and parliamentarians are expected to attend the mammoth anti-fuel price hike rally next Sunday.
A number of the Pakatan Rakyat’s mentri besars and parliamentarians are expected to attend the mammoth anti-fuel price hike rally next Sunday.
“All the preparations are going smoothly and the organisers have arranged for speakers from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to address the crowd,” said Aiman Athirah Al Jundi, one of the key rally organisers.
“Besides the Pakatan speakers, non-governmental organisations will also be roped in. In addition, Protes is also trying to bring in the various Pakatan mentri besars.”
In a statement issued today, Coalition Against Inflation (Protes) reiterated that its mammoth gathering will take place on July 6 in Petaling Jaya’s Padang Timur.
“The secretariat has been receiving many calls seeking to confirm the time and date for the protest,” said Aiman.
“The protest action will go on as planned and we have already secured the field opposite Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya for the function.”
Earlier, Protes could not confirm the date as yet for “tactical reasons”. They initially locked in July 12 for the protest, and then moved it to July 5 before they settled for the present date.
The Sunday protest is slated to begin at 9am. The organisers have targeted one million Malaysians to take to the field on that day.
Government’s motion to legitimise PM’s action
Protes argued that Barisan Nasional MPs had betrayed the people when they back a government’s motion on the fuel hike on Monday.
In a parliamentary vote, 129 voted ‘yes’ to, among others, giving the thumb up for the government’s action in slashing petrol subsidies, and 78 against. It is believed that the aye votes came from amongst the 140 government legislators.
“Although, this was endorsed by Parliament, we the people reject it and it is nothing more than a cheap tactic to legitimise Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s decision to raise fuel prices,” said Aiman.
“The motion was purposely brought to Parliament to appease the people and the hike itself has never been endorsed by Umno and Barisan Nasional’s supreme councils respectively.”
