Thousands throng Kelana Jaya stadium

KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of protestors, led by several NGOs and Pakatan Rakyat leaders thronged the Kelana Jaya stadium here Sunday in protest against the recent fuel hike.
People from all walks of life were seen wearing red shirts, emblazoned with the word "Protes" to voice their dissent.
Some had turned up as early as 8am, via buses from all over the country while others came with their family and children in cars, walked from Kelana Jaya LRT station and cycled there in groups.
The huge crowd however, did not entice the expected heavy police presence.
Only policemen in a few patrol cars were seen monitoring the area. There were also police personnel at several mobile police stations outside the stadium.
About 2,500 volunteers from PAS Youth, Keadilan Youth and Unit Amal Malaysia were at the stadium to manage security.
Outside, it was a carnival-like scene with traders doing brisk business selling food and drinks, T-shirts, CDs, perfumes and souvenirs. Several traders spoken to were even too busy to answer questions.
Leaders from Pakatan Rakyat, Hindraf and Suaram rallied the crowd with speeches and shouts of Reformasi! and Minyak turun! since Sunday morning.
The speakers also used the rally as a platform to raise recent issues plaguing the country's political scene.
Organising chairman Dr Hatta Ramli later urged attendants to gather more people to the already swelling crowd in the afternoon.
Other NGO leaders and members who spoke later also constantly reminded the crowd to send SMSes to their friends to join the rally.
The event later took an hour break at around 1pm for lunch and Zohor prayers.
By 4pm, the crowds had doubled as the roars of "Hidup Rakyat" continued to be heard.

Rocker strips pants and bends down at audience

PETALING JAYA: A singer stripped his trousers and showed his boxer shorts during a concert at the anti-fuel price increase rally in Kelana Jaya stadium Sunday.
The lead singer of rock band Carburettor Dung was halfway through a song at about 7pm when he dropped his pants and exposed his boxer shorts.
His antics resulted in the audience hurling abuses and throwing bottles at him. Security volunteers had to escort the singer and his band members off the stage while event organisers tried to calm the crowd.
It is learnt that prior to his strip performance, the singer was singing a song that included lyrics poking fun at the sodomy allegations against PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
A member of the audience who did not want to be named described the act as inappropriate as there were children present at the event.
Another man, who also wanted to be anonymous, said it was very unprofessional of the singer, adding that he was very upset because many VIPs, including Anwar would be present.
As the situation came under control, event coordinator Hishamuddin Rais came out to apologise for the incident.
The organisers then called for a break for Maghrib prayers.

Boycott by PAS volunteers

In another development, 700 members of the PAS volunteer unit known as Unit Amal, have boycotted the rally over another rock band Lawan Tetap Lawan's performance earlier this afternoon.
The maroon-clad Unit Amal volunteers were part of the event's security and traffic detail and were apparently upset over the punk band's performance which they felt was unsuitable at such an event.
Federal Territories PAS Unit Amal chief Sharifuddin Mohd Yatim confirmed that his volunteers had withdrawn from the event.

tunku : i thought they targeted 1 million,only 15-20 thousands came. anyway it was more like a carnival thing.the police did good job and there was no ugly incident happened except for the rockers strip show.lucky pas volunteers boycotted the rally , i was thinking that they were part of the "unislamic consert" but their leaders did not boycott.