KUALA LUMPUR: The Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah (The People Hate Corruption) rally has been peaceful, with no untoward incidents occurring thus far.
Zaim Zulkifli, 21, a student at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) and Secretary of the rally’s secretariat, led the rally.
In a passionate speech at Dataran Merdeka, he declared: “This rally was built not just by mahasiswa but by mahasiswa who have been carrying the weight of disappointment, just like the rest of Malaysians are feeling right now.
“We are educated students. We are here to voice our concerns after seeing so many corruption cases, even during the Madani government.
“This is about rebuilding trust. If these reforms are not made, how can we expect the rakyat to have faith in this government?” he said at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday (Jan 25).
Zaim outlined the rally’s three key demands:
“Firstly, separate the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
“Second, place the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under the oversight of Parliament, ensuring it is monitored by the rakyat instead of the executive branch.
“And third, enact a Political Financing Act to regulate political donations and expenditures.
The rally secretariat believes the demands are essential for restoring public trust in the government.
The peaceful rally against corruption took place in the heart of the city on Saturday at 2.30pm. Participants marched from a shopping complex along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to Dataran Merdeka.
More than 20 police personnel and officers from the Dang Wangi district police headquarters were seen facilitating the rally, ensuring the safety and security of all, including visitors.
The rally saw notable activists such as Fahmi Reza and Hishamuddin Rais in attendance.
Demonstrators carried banners with slogans like “Rakyat Benci Rasuah”, and participants chanted “Bangkit Rakyat” and “Hidup Mahasiswa” throughout the march, singing anti-corruption-themed songs and calling for justice.
The rally is the first significant public demonstration since the Madani government took office.
