Planned protest at Sungai Besi toll fizzles out

KUALA LUMPUR: A proposed protest at the Sungai Besi toll plaza against the toll hike which had promised fireworks, fizzled out, with only a small number of demonstrators turning up.

The group were far out numbered by the police, which had some 200 men stationed there.

The rally, which was supposed to have started at 9pm, Thursday, got underway about two hours later with anti-government chants and speeches on the rising costs of living.

The rally’s organiser, Shutdown Sungai Besi steering committee chairman Shazni Munir said that toll charges had gone up even though it was claimed during the last general election that the charges would be abolished.

"Instead the charges are only going up.

"The people are suffering with all the increased expenses," he said in his speech here.

Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also present at the rally, said the people could not cope with the rising costs.

"Gone are the days when our kids could afford to buy a new house after getting their first job fresh out of university.

"Now we struggle every day as they, the leaders live lavishly," he said.

The group stayed around under the watchful eye of the police until shortly after midnight, when they dispersed peacefully.