Padang merbok protest rally in pictures and narrative. An observation of the crowd

all eyes on the podium 3pm

Couldn't help but be caught up with the mood of the  sentiments of a large proportion of ordinary citizens, and when the plans for  rally was broadcast, i wanted to attend for myself and was curious as to what kind of atmosphere will there be amongst the crowd that attended the rally..so i went and attended but focused on the fringe events,traversing the whole padang, the surrounding roads , car park and compiled an observation of what i saw in pics best i can.Didn't concentrate on  the main show of the celebrity speakers since it will be reported anyway in the media . The people interested me more..and i was not disappointed!

well behaved crowd

2 pm already crowd forming and streaming in from the main road

Amonsgt many NGOs there 

under the hot sweltering sun and breathing in the haze yet the crowd was well behaved and ruly

despite the baking heat, crowd in good spirits

DBKL trucks  stayin a a safe discreet disance, at a road just next to the padang

Padang carpark .Who says the Malay people were not enterprising, almost all the instant stalls(long line of umbrellas) as far as the eye can see had them  hawking everything from vuvuzuels, drinks, mask, bandanas , t shirts , snacks etc.And the traders were everywhere, in and around the fringes of  the  padang with Colemans stocked with liquid replenishments, the main access road from Bank Negara lined on the side for few hundred metres with the traders
There was a very pasar malam festive feel to the rally. Free market of demand and supply economics and the entrepreneurial spirit and initiative of the mostly Malay traders are admired.

   

mourning Teoh beng Hock

Long line of police trucks and  DBKL vehicles standing by. The  section of the main road next to padang merbok was closed for Ambulances, and Police and  DBKL vehicles to park on standby.. 

This may qualify in the Malaysian book of records as the longest banner with a multi lingua  political message that was ever made, It stretch all the way across the the whole length of padang merbok.

A large portion of the crowd were concentrated under shady spots just next to the padang taking refuge from the sweltering heat...It was very hot n with the hazy conditions. salute to those suffering under the hot sun in the field.The heat is bad enough but to breathe in haze in a packed crowd,imagine how uncomfortable that is...
Can't stand the heat , get out of the kitchen

A troop of plainclothes policemen and women  going in to mingle, i am sure to facilitate the smooth progress and to look out for potential trouble makers and nip them in the bud before it may get out of hand....

Najib and his cats

POINT TO PONDER...DO YOU FEEL LIKE A CAT?

In the shade looking at those under the hot sun and haze

It was sweltering hot and the crowd  on the padang just sweated it out. 

PAS supporters unfurling a huge flag at the main road

Teoh Beng Hock reminder, hands restrained,  helpless victim of  persecution?

Please give me closure , my hands are tied , i cannot do anything humanly possible. Now i am but a disembodied  restless wandering spirit. My innocent  life tragically wrenched from my family.
 A ghost that should  not be forgotten.

In the shade of the trees vs those on the field baking in the heat n breathing in the haze

Many couldn't bear the sweltering heat of the sun and sought shade under the trees around the field
Participating and Protesting on their comfortable shady terms..!

Police staging area . Those that are standing are actually plainclothes cops of the tougher variety on stand-by in case anything untoward gets out of control, Couldn't help but noticed they were all dressed in black as well.

Huge PAS flag with added  message emblazoned 

The NGO ABU"s  stand

Under the hot sun in the field yet these people don't seem to mind ,just bearing the heat. This  crowd i Salute!

Orang Asli voice of dissent 

Add caption

Crowd scene from a shaded position and looking out at those not sheltered..

A supporter dozing of or disenchanted, picture of his  facial expression  holding the PR flag is food for thought 

Came across dozens of net denizens standing by with laptops writing away as events  unfold..
Social media on the spot coverage, instant news 

Orang Asli part of the crowd in their improvised costumes, having lunch..resolve and protest on a lunch break

The only untoward incident at the rally.. a scuffle broke out when DBKL officers wanted to forcibly remove a tent in the padang from the ABU  supporters students  camp, while the rally was in full swing, in next to an instant, an angry mob materialises and surrounded and almost lynched the DBKL officers,there was screaming and shouting and almost a thousand strong mob rushed over ,morbid curiousity mostly but emotions frayed, if there had been confrontation by the DBKL it would have gotten out of control easily. Our boys in blue were playing it coy and i wud say wisely stayed out of the fracas, but monitoring the situation. 
Fortunately the event organisers intervened and Rafizi himself n his whole crew went over to calm the angry mob ,trying to get them to return to the field. Most did after the prompting but the morbidly curious crowd and a few devilishly outraged seemed to be intent to cause a physical ruckus and inflict terror, not helped by the swarm of media photographers all jostling for position. Lasted over a good 20 minutes or so..Wow , the scene really looked like a troop of very hungry lions battling over a small carcass. 
Only when the aggresive  officer was escorted out of the area under heavy protective detail did things calm down.



Angry mob had surrounded the van the DBKL officer was in and close to igniting . Till Rafizi stepped in and  urging calm in the  tense volatile situation. It was close shave for the situation to get out of hand. 

 The irony of the words didn't escape me. Rally is held at the padang  just in front of the national arts, culture and heritage academy , towering complex in full  witness of  a new consciouness and  cultural awakening of the people. "Melangkah ke hadapan bersama tradisi" -Taking a step forward hand in hand with tradition..pertinent phrase in deed..(video below) Managed to film it just as the the chant of " HIDUP RAKYAT" roared in the background..

Mat Sabu fortune telling of our future election prospects and distasteful racial antics of BN even after they have won, presided over by the Malaysian HERITAGE academy building in the background !