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.
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:
Electricity Highway tollsHighway tolls in Malaysia set to rise Fuel pricesMalaysia Raises Fuel Prices as Najib Seeks to Trim Budget Gap – Bloomberg An introduction of a GST of 6% What 6% GST means to Malaysians | My Sinchew Sugar price
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.Malaysians vent frustration on rising cost of living in postings on PM’s Facebook - The Malaysian Insider
The police arrested the chairman of Turun, Azan Safar on the charge of trying to overthrow the government.SO EASY TO TOPPLE! Student activist protesting price hikes arrested on alleged bid to overthrow govtAnti-price hike rally chief arrested | The Malaysian TimesMalaysia's New Year's Eve protest group leader arrested | Malaysia News | Msia | AsiaOneMalaysian police launch crackdown ahead of anti-price hike rally | Bangkok Post: business Turun members said they will go ahead with the rally in spite of police warnings.Students vow to go ahead with anti-price hikes protest despite police warnings - The Malaysian Insider Another arrest was made of a man in connection to the protest of selling T-shirts which the police considered seditious.Cops start clampdown? | Free Malaysia Today 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).On alert for planned protests, cops pledge no roadblocks | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
The Bar Council of Malaysia has called on the government and police to make sure the rally goes peacefully.Bar Council: Allow assembly to go on | Free Malaysia TodayUpdate - Don't be pedantic over price hike rally, Bar tells police Malaysian human rights group SUARAM has promised to provide legal aid to protesters who have been arrested in the rally by the police.Suaram to give legal aid to those detained at tomorrow’s rally - The Malaysian Insider
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.Opposition behind ‘C for Chaos’ email, says Utusan - The Malaysian Insider Former IGP Norian Mai has refuted this claims, saying it was unlikely that Malaysians would follow the example of Arab Spring.Attempt to overthrow government very unlikely, says former IGP - The Malaysian Insider Opposition member, Rafizi Ramli was questioned in regards to allegations by a pro-UMNO blogger that explosives will be used during the rally.Cops quiz Rafizi over explosive threat at New Year rally | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online The police has been accused of being non-professional in not going after the pro-UMNO blogs for creating the rumours.Cops undermining own image in crackdown on rally organisers, says Kit Siang - The Malaysian Insider Jingga 13 and SAMM plan to sue the police over the allegation that they plan to overthrow the government.Jingga 13 to sue cops for ‘troublemaker’ allegation | Malaysia | The Malay Mail OnlineAfter Jingga 13, SAMM mulls RM100m suit against cops | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
As a precaution to the protests to be held in Dataran Merdeka, 300 personnel from City Hall are to be deployed for that night,KL City Hall deploys 300 enforcement personnel at Dataran Merdeka – Bernama - The Malaysian Insider including step-up patrols by the police.BERNAMA – Police Step Up Patrols In KL To Thwart Any Illegal Gathering 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.Thousand cops to ensure peace in Penang | Free Malaysia Today
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.As crowd gathers for anti-price hike rally, cops enter Dataran Merdeka | Malaysia | The Malay Mail OnlineThousands defy warning, cops out in full force - Malaysiakini 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. The protesters were allowed to shout slogans protesting the price hikes.Malaysian police allow protesters to march, shout slogans After 1 o'clock in the morning the protesters began to disperse peacefully.
The police said they would begin to probe and arrest the organisers of the protest under the pretext of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.Cops to probe December 31 rally-goers for illegal assembly | Malaysia | The Malay Mail Online
References