Malaysia prepares for New Year’s Eve protests
Malaysian authorities are on high alert as they prepare to crack down on anyone participating in a street rally calling for an overthrow of the government. The protests are planned for New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2013, Channel News Asia reported.
As discontent with rising prices and against the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak is on the rise in Malaysia, a couple of opposition groups are planning to stage street protests on the last day of the year. Turun is one coalition that will be rallying on December 31 against slashes to subsidies, hikes in electricity tariffs and the impending introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.
Police believe the opposition-linked Turun may have more dangerous plans, and on December 23 they detained its leader, 24-year-old Mohd Azan Safar. On social media, people are discussing plans of a New Year Eve’s rally that aims at toppling the Barisan Nasional government.
A special investigative task force was even set up after someone posted a Facebook status asking where he could find a bomb for the rally. However, Turun maintains that its gathering is peaceful and separate from the one calling to overthrow the government.
Whether or not Turun has anti-government motives, the authorities said they will take “stern action” against anyone who organises rallies “without observing the proper laws and requirements”.
Malaysian authorities are on high alert as they prepare to crack down on anyone participating in a street rally calling for an overthrow of the government. The protests are planned for New Year's Eve on December 31, 2013, Channel News Asia reported. As discontent with rising prices and against the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak is on the rise in Malaysia, a couple of opposition groups are planning to stage street protests on the last day of the year. Turun is one coalition that will be rallying on December 31 against slashes to subsidies, hikes in electricity tariffs and...
Malaysian authorities are on high alert as they prepare to crack down on anyone participating in a street rally calling for an overthrow of the government. The protests are planned for New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2013, Channel News Asia reported.
As discontent with rising prices and against the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak is on the rise in Malaysia, a couple of opposition groups are planning to stage street protests on the last day of the year. Turun is one coalition that will be rallying on December 31 against slashes to subsidies, hikes in electricity tariffs and the impending introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.
Police believe the opposition-linked Turun may have more dangerous plans, and on December 23 they detained its leader, 24-year-old Mohd Azan Safar. On social media, people are discussing plans of a New Year Eve’s rally that aims at toppling the Barisan Nasional government.
A special investigative task force was even set up after someone posted a Facebook status asking where he could find a bomb for the rally. However, Turun maintains that its gathering is peaceful and separate from the one calling to overthrow the government.
Whether or not Turun has anti-government motives, the authorities said they will take “stern action” against anyone who organises rallies “without observing the proper laws and requirements”.
