Top 10 Largest Street Demonstrations in Malaysia Part II (Ranking 5-1)

5. HINDRAF RALLY

DATE: 25^TH NOV 2008

ORGANISER:  Hindu Right Action Force (HINDRAF)

AIM: to submit a petition to the British embassy that the government had denied the rights of the Indian community in Malaysia for the past 50 years.  One of the main event that lead to the rally was the demolition Hindu temples without any discretion.

STRENGTH: 40 000- 50 000+

4. MALAYAN UNION

DATE: 1946

ORGANISER: United Malays National Organization (UMNO, led by Dato’ Onn bin Jaafar)

AIM: unites all the Malays to refuse to British proposal of Malayan Union

STRENGTH: unsure, since held in several places such as Selangor, Perak, Johor, and even held for few weeks. However, one of the largest protests at that time that made a nation called Malaysia today. Even, the British at that time were shocked to look that the Malays had united.

3.BERSIH 1.0

DATE: 10TH Oct 2007

ORGANISER: BERSIH (consists of 26 NGOs)

AIM:

           1.  Usage of Indelible Ink

             2.Clean-up of Registered Voters Roll

          3.Abolition of Postal Votes

             4Access to the government-controlled print and  broadcast media for opposition parties.

Submit memorandum to the King

STRENGTH: local media (4000+), BERSIH (50 000-60 000) - however they could not gather at same place due to police blocks.

2. REFORMASI 98

DATE:  September 1998

ORGANISER: DS Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters

AIM:  to protest against the injustice of the sacking of the former Deputy Prime Minister DSAI from all his political posts.

STRENGTH:  police claimed 20 000+, other sources claimed 100 000+, some even claimed even more as it was held till Anwar Ibrahim was sent to jail.

1. BERSIH 2.0

DATE: 9^th July 2011

ORGANISER: Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, (BERSIH) which consists of 62 non-governmental organisations. Chaired by former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan

AIM:

            1.Clean the electoral roll

             2.Reform postal voting

             3. Use of indelible ink

             4. A minimum campaign period of 21 days

5.       5. Free and fair access to mainstream media

6.       6. Strengthen public institutions

7.       7. Stop corruption

8.       8. Stop dirty politics

STRENGTH: local media claimed 6 000+, foreign media claimed 100 000+. This is the largest protest because there were at least 50 000+ people gathered in 4 different places (KLCC, Pudu, Masjid Jamek, Masjid Negara). Even some estimate it had reached approximately 250 000+. Moreover, government had taken precautions 2 weeks before the gathering. Police blocks, media access, total lockdown, refuse bus permits to kl, Friday prayers also refuse to go gathering. Police also arrested about 1700 civilians in order to reduce the number of protesters.

For Top 10 Largest Street Demonstrations in Malaysia Part I (Ranking 10-6), click here