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THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS gathering outside the King's palace in Kuala Lumpur, during a rally calling for electoral reforms. Organisers estimated 50,000 people showed up yesterday but police put the figure at 10,000. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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KUALA LUMPUR - POLICE in the Malaysian capital unleashed water cannon and fired tear gas yesterday to disperse protesters in one of the country's biggest anti-government rallies in a decade.
Thousands of opposition supporters marched in heavy rain to the King's palace to demand changes to the country's electoral system.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi had warned of stern action and the police had said the gathering was illegal.
But opposition leaders were yesterday allowed to hand over a list of demands to a palace official.
'The Malaysian public must be allowed to express their opinions and views,' parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said at the palace gates before delivering the petition.
The list asked that the government clean up the electoral rolls and use indelible ink to prevent people from voting more than once.
It also called for an end to postal voting for the armed forces and a guarantee that the opposition parties be allowed fair access to the media during general elections.
'We want to thank the police for cooperating with us,' Parti Keadilan Rakyat's treasurer Khalid Ibrahim told reporters after the petition was handed over.
Although all ended on that peaceful note, riot police clashed initially with protesters who had gathered near the historic Jamek mosque - one of several entry points into Independence Square - before the march began.
A few hundred protesters ran into the mosque, where they shouted 'Allahu Akbar (God is Great)'. The rest fled down the street to escape the tear gas and powerful water jets.
About 20 people were detained but they were later released.
Other than the trouble near the Jamek mosque, the march preceded without incident as demonstrators made their way to the palace.
Organised by election watchdog group Bersih, the rally was one of the biggest since opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's sacking as deputy premier in 1998.
Bersih (Malay for 'clean') is an opposition-led coalition, set up to demand electoral reforms ahead of a general election expected within months.
Police estimated the crowd yesterday at 10,000 but rally organisers say it drew up to 50,000 people.
The numbers were far fewer than the targeted 100,000. But Datuk Seri Anwar said he was happy with the turnout.
'I think this is a major success in the expression of public sentiment against fraudulent practices in the elections,' he said.
The protesters appeared to be largely from opposition groups, including Parti Islam SeMalaysia which has a vast grassroots network.
It was unlikely that the turnout reflected shifting support as rally attendance rarely reflects voting patterns at elections.
The opposition has vowed to hold more rallies until their demands are met.
kumhor@sph.com.sg
Additional information from Reuters and AFP
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