Pakatan expects large crowd in rally against BN rule
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is confident of getting one million people in its “Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat” today, with its leaders saying last night the “historic” mega-rally will show the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that its 54-year rule is nearing the end.
Some 6,000 people attended a gathering at the Sultan Sulaiman Club here last night, where more than 70 opposition leaders and activists fired up the crowd with speeches of change and the imminent fall of BN.
Among the speakers were PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu who called the rally at the historic Stadium Merdeka where Independence was declared, the start of the final battle for Putrajaya.
“Tomorrow’s rally will be the last before we take over the government,” shouted Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, a favourite among the Islamist party and opposition faithful.
The crowd, mostly Malays, appeared upbeat as PR leaders went over the opposition’s election chances.
A sense of camaraderie was also prevalent as the crowd of strangers, mostly donning yellow or green tees with “BN will fall” written on them, shouted in sync slogans of “people power” and “the end of BN”.
Playing up this sentiment was PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang, who said this spirited display of people power would send chills down rivals’ spines.
“This is not just about changing the government. It is about how the people will rise and rewrite history. That they will no longer tolerate a cruel regime,” he said.
