'Turun Anwar' rally picks up steam as organisers brace for biggest anti-PM protest since Najib era

Preparations for tomorrow's "Turun Anwar" rally are intensifying, as organisers target the participation of hundreds of thousands in what may be the biggest protest against a prime minister since the anti-government demonstrations during the Najib Razak era. 

The rally was organised on the back of criticism against Anwar Ibrahim's administration, with rising taxes and price hikes, corruption scandals, the recent judicial crisis, and the withdrawal of subsidies among the main grouses raised.  

This is the first time that Anwar's administration will face a mobilisation of this scale since the general election in 2022 when he formed a coalition government with Barisan Nasional in the absence of a clear victor. 

Previous anti-government rallies had represented specific groups such as students, lawyers, activists or workers.

The Bar Council, for example, organised a march to the Prime Minister's Office on July 14 to express dissatisfaction with alleged political interference in the appointment of senior judges, including to fill the role of chief justice. 

That gathering has spurred on tomorrow's rally, with organisers confident of drawing not only Perikatan Nasional (PN) supporters, but also members of the public who are not involved in politics. 

Hilman Idham, deputy chairman of the "Turun Anwar" secretariat, said figures received from PN Youth showed that attendance would hit 130,000, exceeding the initial target. 

"With the support of political parties such as Muda, as well as NGOs, student groups and those who are disappointed with the Madani government, we are optimistic of reaching our target of 300,000 on July 26," he told MalaysiaNow.

Hilman, the Gombak Setia assemblyman and Bersatu Youth chief, said the rally would be a manifestation of the people's anger over the government's failure to make good on its promise of reforms. 

PAS has been at the forefront of preparations for the rally and is expected to mobilise hundreds of thousands of members and supporters from across the country, as it did for the Bersih gatherings when it was still with PKR and DAP. 

It will also deploy 800 personnel to monitor security and assist with matters such as medical services.

At the state level, ceramahs and flash mobs have been held since early this month. 

Social media meanwhile have been flooded with posters and videos, matched by campaigns by government supporters to discourage people from attending. 

The "Turun Anwar" gathering has more than 15 main demands, foremost of which is the call for him to resign. 

It is also targeting the Urban Renewal Act and recent tax hikes, in addition to calling for institutional reforms and transparency in the governance of government-linked companies. 

Several notices have already been issued, warning civil servants against participating in the gathering. 

Earlier this week, Anwar announced a string of initiatives including RM100 cash aid for all Malaysian adults, a reduction in RON95 fuel price, and a delay of the planned increase in toll rates.  

But Hilman said these initiatives would not affect support for the gathering. 

"They will have no effect whatsoever," he said, describing the announcement as "bait to keep people away". 

Rally locations

Participants have been asked to gather at four main locations before moving at about 3pm towards Dataran Merdeka – the venue of many anti0givernment demonstrations organised by Anwar himself after his sacking from government in 1998. 

The locations in question are Masjid Negara, Sogo, Masjid Jamek and Pasar Seni.

PAS Youth information chief Khairul Nadzir Helmi, who is part of the organising secretariat, said participants are expected to reach Dataran Merdeka at 3.30pm or 3.45pm. 

He said the police had agreed to cooperate in ensuring that the rally proceeds in a peaceful manner, in addition to promising that no road blocks would be put up.

"We have been told that hundreds of buses from every state will come, from Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.

"Most of the participants will come from these states as they have been the worst affected by the government's shortcomings," he said. 

Rallygoers have been asked to wear black as a symbol of solidarity. They are also prohibited from bringing their children. 

Meanwhile, lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the lawyers' march on July 14 had sparked enthusiasm ahead of tomorrow's rally. 

"It has built up confidence among the people that they should go down to the ground, that they can, and that they have the right to participate," he told MalaysiaNow. 

He also cited the Federal Court's decision that Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act is unconstitutional as it is not an offence to assemble without giving notice to the security forces.

"If 1,500 lawyers out of more than 20,000 were willing to rally for judicial independence, that has shown the people the big picture," he said. 

"When the issues at hand are clear and based on facts, the people can see that rallies are not a form of abuse – they are legitimate demands within a constitutional framework."