Despite police probe, anti-Anwar rally organiser vows more protests

‘Rakyat Lawan Anwar’ organiser Aidil Yunus speaking to reporters after he and 10 others gave their statements at the Putrajaya police headquarters today.

PUTRAJAYA: The organiser of last Saturday’s “Rakyat Lawan Anwar” rally has vowed to stage more protests in the near future despite being investigated for allegedly failing to comply with the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

The police recorded statements from Aidil Yunus and 10 others regarding the demonstration held outside Seri Perdana, the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya, which attracted about 250 people.

Aidil, known as YB Viral, said there are plans to organise more rallies and public forums across the country as protesters gear up for the second anniversary of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s appointment in November.

“Anwar can expect bigger rallies. We will hold the events in constituencies like Tambun, Bagan Datuk, Pandan, Seremban and Kota Raja,” he told reporters outside the Putrajaya police headquarters today.

“The peak will be on Nov 24, which will be Anwar’s second anniversary as the prime minister.”

Saturday’s protest highlighted eight demands, including a call to stop the increase in the price of RON95 petrol, address the rice shortage, and tackle unaddressed issues resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event was also aimed at highlighting the rising cost of living and the need to protect public healthcare staff, ensure fair wages, uphold freedom of speech, and maintain economic sovereignty.

Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Isa said the demonstration proceeded despite the rally organiser failing to obtain the consent of the land owner, Perbadanan Putrajaya, as required under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

Aidil previously denied the need to obtain the consent of the land owner as “this land is not private property, it’s funded by taxpayers”.

In a statement today, Putrajaya police chief A Asmadi Abdul Aziz said the 11 are being investigated under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Pejuang leader Rafique Rashid Ali, who was among those questioned for two hours today, condemned the investigation and denied claims that people were paid to stage the protest.

According to the police, those questioned were Aidil, Rafique, Anas Abdul Jalil, Faizal Hassan, Fathul Farisan Rahman, lawyer Zubir Embong, MCA member Michelle Foo, former DAP member Alex Shee as well as influencers Nurpais Ismail (Papa Berry), Tunku Intan Abdul Hamid (Dayangku Intan) and Siti Zulaikha Olivia (Mak Iban Olivia).

The police are also expected to record a statement from Bersatu member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, on Wednesday, and federal territories Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz at a later date.