(Updated) Smooth start for Labour Day event without police approval

KUALA LUMPUR: A peaceful rally themed “Loss of Jobs, Workers Suffer, Retrenchment Fund Now", held in conjunction with Labour Day, went on without a hitch despite the organiser failing to get police approval for event.
Calling for the government to initiate a workers retrenchment fund among others, nearly 200 participants comprising 15 NGOs and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members gathered in front of Masjid Negara, here, at 10am to show their support for the cause.
According to PSM central committee member S. Arutchelvan, the fund is to address current issues faced by workers who have lost their jobs due to companies going bust, restructuring exercise or budget cuts by the government.
“Apart from the workers retrenchment fund, we also demand more rights for female workers, the implementation of a RM1,500 minimum wage and migrant workers’ rights,” he said when met at the rally.
Watched closely by the police personnel, rally participants also held up various banners which stated “We Want Retrenchment Fund Now", “Labourer's Uprising” and "Long Live Workers" among others as they proceeded to march towards Bukit Bintang.
The NGOs involved include Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Sisters In Islam (SiS), Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), Kesatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia (Kesatuan), Free Education Movement, Sahabat Wanita, Buku Jalanan, Rumah Bayang, Malaysian Youth and Students’ Democratic Movement (Dema) and Sisters for Justice.
The group swelled up to over 300 people by the time the crowd reached the Lot 10 square under the scorching heat and disbanded by 1pm following several performances and speeches.
Despite earlier claims by rally organisers that had already fulfilled the minimum requirement under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 to proceed, Dang Wangi police chief ACP Mohd Sukri Kaman had warned them against going ahead with the rally.
He had said this was because the organisers had failed to get the green light from Lot 10 owners in Bukit Bintang as stipulated under the act.