Protesters March To Denounce Malaysia's Government For Hiking Fuel Prices

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition protesters marched through Malaysia's largest city Friday (13 June) in the biggest public show of anger over the government's decision to dramatically raise fuel prices.

Riot police fanned out in downtown Kuala Lumpur, mounting roadblocks and foiling the demonstrators' plan to walk from a popular mosque to the nearby Petronas Twin Towers, the headquarters of the national oil firm.

The protesters chanted "Down with the National Front," referring to the governing coalition, and called for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign. They later changed their route and marched to a shopping complex instead.

It was the most high-profile in a series of protests that have plagued Abdullah's administration since the retail price of gasoline shot up 5 June by 41% to 2.70 ringgit (US$0.87) a liter, or 10.23 ringgit (US$3.30) a gallon.

"People are pushed to a corner," technician Azamuddin Hamzah told reporters as a police helicopter hovered in the sky.

"How are we going to survive? The government asks us to change our lifestyle, but they are so wasteful," Azamuddin said. Many motorists who drove past the protesters honked in support.

Police earlier warned that 2,000 personnel would be deployed to halt the rally because organizers had not sought a permit, which is needed for any gathering of more than four people.

Like other Asian nations, Malaysia says fuel subsidies are no longer tenable amid soaring world oil prices. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Abdullah has pledged that gasoline prices will not be further raised this year.

Opposition parties and public rights groups are scheduled to roll out more protests nationwide in the next few weeks, culminating in what they say will be a rally of 1 million people in Kuala Lumpur on 5 July.

The opposition has voiced hopes that public fury stoked by the energy hike and inflation would ultimately topple Abdullah, who has struggled to stay in power after his National Front coalition suffered its worst-ever electoral results in March national polls.

(By EILEEN NG/ AP)
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