Cover image via themalaysianinsider.com
Unhappy with GST, about 100 Malaysians gathered at the Customs Department Office in Kelana Jaya on 11am, 23 March 2015 to protest the upcoming tax
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
Led by Parti Socialist Malaysia and Gabungan Bantah GST, the protest aims to get answers about the controversial consumption tax. They believe Malaysians are not yet ready for GST.
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
It was supposed to be a peaceful sit-in protest, but it quickly turned ugly when the protestors were barred from entering the building. A brawl broke out between the police and the protestors.
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
Seen in the crowd are national laureate Pak Samad, Aunty Bersih, student leader Safwan Anang, federal lawmakers, and more
Leaders of the organising group tried to calm protestors but the air remained thick with tension
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
After negotiations, the police agreed for the activists to hand over the anti-GST memorandum to Customs director-general Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman met the protesters but after two questions from the floor, he refused to answer any further and left the meeting
In a statement by the Parti Sosialis [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/partisosialis/posts/958622914161583) The party made several attempts to meet him but were 'obstructed' by the police again. "**We waited for him for four hours** to give us further clarification on the matter, or at least confirm that he will be replying to us in another meeting, **but unfortunately, he never turned up**."
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
At 5pm, Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Azmi Abu Kassim ordered the activists to leave as the Customs office were closing. When they refused to leave, Light Strike Force personnel began arresting them.
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
A total of 80 people were arrested. They were handcuffed and thrown into a police truck.
Image via Malaysikini via Facebook
The relentless activists gathered in front of the Kelana Jaya police station again the next day, 24 March, 7.30pm. They demanded for the release of their comrades, a move that resulted in another three arrests.
Of the 80 who were arrested during the anti-GST protest, 26 were sent to the Shah Alam district police headquarters while the others were released
The people continued to chant and rile up the crowd that had gathered by exclaiming "hidup rakyat" ("long live the people") and "bantah GST" ("protest GST")
Image via Malaysia Kini
Two members of parliament, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj (Sungai Siput) and Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai) were among the 26 who have been remanded
Sungai Siput MP Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, one of the protestors arrested at Customs Department office, Kelana Jaya.
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, one of the protestors arrested at Customs Department office, Kelana Jaya.
Image via Malaysiakini
According to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, actions of the anti-GST protesters are "barbaric"
"They are trespassers, so let Selangor police look into the case and those involved first," he told reporters.
Image via Berita Terkini Malaysia
On Facebook, Parti Sosialis Malaysia retorted to the IGP's claim, saying that it was the police who behaved barbarically
"How is PSM trespassing into a government building when we were visiting the public information GST counter available on the ground floor of the building! **Does it mean all citizens visiting the public information counter are trespassers?**"
"**It was the police whom behaved barbarically and pulled and shoved many of us in an attempt to arrest us**. What is the point of having a public information counter when it is locked and guarded by the red hat Federal Reserve Unit with shields and batons! **PSM and the civil society condemn the police abusive arrest and the IGP for deliberately distorting the events to justify their arrest and charge.** We demand the immediate release of all those arrested with no charges as the only party that acted barbarically and unreasonable today were the police."
Image via Malaysiakini via Facebook
Federal Reserve Unit with shields and batons during the anti-GST protest at Kelana Jaya.
Image via Malaysiakini
Despite the protests, GST is set to proceed. Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan says "demonstrations will not stop the [implementation of] GST."
Image via The Malaysian Insider
The 25 anti-GST protestors have been now been charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act for failure to follow a police order to disperse at the Customs Department Office
Of the 79 who were arrested during the anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) protest, 26 were taken to the Shah Alam district police headquarters, and the remaining protesters released.
Image via Rakyat Times
