BUKTI RAKYAT MENYAMPAH DENGAN DEMO BODOH HIMPUNAN HIJAU!

Tak habis - habis menyusahkan orang

The Himpunan Hijau march by about 2,000 protesters here against the Lynas project in Gebeng, Pahang caused massive city traffic congestion today.

Prior to the actual rally at Dataran Merdeka at 4pm, the protesters had marched for several kilometres from Gombak.

Bernama found that traffic stalled as the protesters arrived at the major roads leading to the city including Jalan Maharajalela, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Masjid India, Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Sultan Ismail, resulting in massive traffic congestion.

Police had to step in to supervise the traffic flow while allowing the protesters to move along safely.

The police also took additional measures by closing Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Masjid India.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah were spotted at the rally.

It is learnt that the rally was held without a police permit and permission had also not been obtained from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for use of Dataran Merdeka as the venue.

A Jalan Masjid India drinks stall operator, Rahman Ahmad, 39, said the march disrupted his business.

“Many of my customers ran away when they saw the protesters... some even fled without paying,” he lamented.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital nurse Azizah Daud, 40, said the rally was regrettable as it could tarnish the image of the country and gave a negative impression to foreign tourists.

“I saw some rally participants shooing away tourists at Dataran Merdeka who were taking photographs there,” she said.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student Ahmad Ashraf Mohamad, 20, was forced to cancel his shopping trip for class needs as his younger brother experienced breathlessness after being trapped among the marching protesters.

“I did not expect such a thing to happen. The participants should think of the implications of their action on others,” he said.

Lynas chose to operate in Malaysia because of its cheaper production costs compared to Australia, while China has tightened export of the product.

Lynas had obtained licences to build the plant in the two countries. — Bernama