Save our nature: Youth environmental group members taking part in the rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: Dismayed by the government’s lack of initiatives and policies to address climate change issues, a group of people staged a peaceful protest in Dataran Merdeka.
The #MYClimateRally, organised by Klima Acton Malaysia (Kamy), also saw the participation of several NGOs including Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka), Suara Rakyat Malaysia and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.
They walked from Masjid Jamek LRT station to Dataran Merdeka, chanting “Reject Logging”, “We Want Climate Justice” and “Power to the People”, among others.
Participants were also spotted holding placards that read ”March Now or Swim Later” and “Alam Sekitar Milik Kita” (the environment belongs to all of us).
The rally was monitored by a group of policemen.
Peka vice-president Sophine Tan, who gave a speech, said every Malaysian has a responsibility on this issue.
“If you don’t do anything, nothing is going to change,” she said in her speech.
Some participants took turns to recite poems about climate change.
As a symbolic finale, the group lay down on the ground around a participant, dressed in a planet earth costume.
Around 1pm, they dispersed in an orderly manner with no untoward incident.
