Ops Turun, anti-price hike rally 2013

Ops Turun is an anti-price hike rally that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 31, 2013. The rally was organised by non-government organisations Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup (Turun) and Gerakan3112 in response to the Malaysian government raising prices of essential foodstuffs, fuel and toll rates. At the same time the opposition highlighted the inadequate salary increments, corruption and illicit outflow of funds from Malaysia.^[1]

Background

Since the last general elections, the Malaysian government began to backtrack on many of their election promises by raising the prices and cost of living over a broad scope of items:

1. Electricity ^[2]
2. Highway tolls^[3]
3. Fuel prices^[4]
4. An introduction of a GST of 6% ^[5]
5. Sugar price^[6]

Pre-rally incidents

There have been many postings on Facebook by Malaysians venting their frustrations on the rising cost of living and the government's indifference to their plight, including Prime Minister Najib's Facebook page.^[7]

The police arrested the chairman of Turun, Azan Safar on the charge of trying to overthrow the government.^{[8][9][10][11]} Turun members said they will go ahead with the rally in spite of police warnings.^[12] Another arrest was made of a man in connection to the protest of selling T-shirts which the police considered seditious.^[13] The police has listed four groups out to make trouble during the rally such as Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup, PKR-backed group Jingga 13, youth group Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), and student movement Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM).^[14]

The Bar Council of Malaysia has called on the government and police to make sure the rally goes peacefully.^[15][16] Malaysian human rights group SUARAM has promised to provide legal aid to protesters who have been arrested in the rally by the police.^[17]

The government-linked newspaper Utusan has reported about an email sent by opposition figures of trying to cause chaos and overthrow the government during the rally.^[18] Former IGP Norian Mai has refuted this claims, saying it was unlikely that Malaysians would follow the example of Arab Spring.^[19] Opposition member, Rafizi Ramli was questioned in regards to allegations by a pro-UMNO blogger that explosives will be used during the rally.^[20] The police has been accused of being non-professional in not going after the pro-UMNO blogs for creating the rumours.^[21] Jingga 13 and SAMM plan to sue the police over the allegation that they plan to overthrow the government.^[22][23]

As a precaution to the protests to be held in Dataran Merdeka, 300 personnel from City Hall are to be deployed for that night,^[24] including step-up patrols by the police.^[25] The police began deploying 1,000 personnel in various locations in Penang to deal with protest over there to be stage in conjunction with the protests in Dataran Merdeka.^[26]

Rally and aftermath

Thousands of protesters gathered at various parts of Kuala Lumpur to begin their march to Dataran Merdeka such as Sogo Shopping Complex, Pasar Seni and Masjid Jamek.^[27][28] Protesters, numbering 50,000 according to Turun broke through the police cordons surrounding Dataran Merdeka where a new year concert was being held. However, some local media reported there were only 30,000 or fewer people were attended.^[29] The protesters were allowed to shout slogans protesting the price hikes.^[30] After 1 o'clock in the morning the protesters began to disperse peacefully.^[31][32]

The police said they would begin to probe and arrest the organisers of the protest under the pretext of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.^[33][34]

References

1. Smaller increment, bonuses not enough to withstand price hikes next year, says DAP - The Malaysian Insider
2. Electricity tariff up by average 15% from Jan 1 - Nation | The Star Online
3. Highway tolls in Malaysia set to rise
4. Malaysia Raises Fuel Prices as Najib Seeks to Trim Budget Gap – Bloomberg
5. What 6% GST means to Malaysians | My Sinchew
6. Anwar says sugar subsidy removal means a sweet RM1 billion profit for sugar giants – The Malaysian Insider
7. Malaysians vent frustration on rising cost of living in postings on PM’s Facebook - The Malaysian Insider
8. SO EASY TO TOPPLE! Student activist protesting price hikes arrested on alleged bid to overthrow govt
9. Anti-price hike rally chief arrested | The Malaysian Times
10. Malaysia's New Year's Eve protest group leader arrested | Malaysia News | Msia | AsiaOne
11. Malaysian police launch crackdown ahead of anti-price hike rally | Bangkok Post: business
12. Students vow to go ahead with anti-price hikes protest despite police warnings - The Malaysian Insider
13. Cops start clampdown? | Free Malaysia Today
14. On alert for planned protests, cops pledge no roadblocks | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
15. Bar Council: Allow assembly to go on | Free Malaysia Today
16. Update - Don't be pedantic over price hike rally, Bar tells police
17. Suaram to give legal aid to those detained at tomorrow’s rally - The Malaysian Insider
18. Opposition behind ‘C for Chaos’ email, says Utusan - The Malaysian Insider
19. Attempt to overthrow government very unlikely, says former IGP - The Malaysian Insider
20. Cops quiz Rafizi over explosive threat at New Year rally | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
21. Cops undermining own image in crackdown on rally organisers, says Kit Siang - The Malaysian Insider
22. Jingga 13 to sue cops for ‘troublemaker’ allegation | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
23. After Jingga 13, SAMM mulls RM100m suit against cops | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
24. KL City Hall deploys 300 enforcement personnel at Dataran Merdeka – Bernama - The Malaysian Insider
25. BERNAMA – Police Step Up Patrols In KL To Thwart Any Illegal Gathering
26. Thousand cops to ensure peace in Penang | Free Malaysia Today
27. As crowd gathers for anti-price hike rally, cops enter Dataran Merdeka | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
28. Thousands defy warning, cops out in full force - Malaysiakini
29. "KL protesters rally against price hikes". Businesstimes.com.sg. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
30. Malaysian police allow protesters to march, shout slogans
31. Rally a success, says Turun - The Malaysian Insider
32. Anti Price Hike makes a point | Free Malaysia Today
33. In the aftermath of anti-price hike rally, police set to haul organisers - The Malaysian Insider
34. Cops to probe December 31 rally-goers for illegal assembly | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online