Slow start for anti-kleptocracy rally

PETALING JAYA: While organisers of the anti-kleptocracy rally set a mammoth target of 100,000 participants, the actual figure was still a far cry during the commencement of the peaceful assembly.
Participants, mostly clad in red shirts, were seen slowly moving into Padang Timur, the venue of the rally, at the start of the event at 4pm.
The field, which could roughly accommodate around 50,000 people, largely remained empty as participants shied away from the scorching sun.
Many of them were seen congregating under the trees to avoid the heat, with the exception of the canopied area on the field where several businesses were set up as part of the event.
One of the participants, Mohan Raj, 25, who arrived at Padang Timur at 3.30pm, said most participants might only come later in the evening as the event is scheduled to end at 11pm.
"It's the weekend, maybe more people will flood the venue later in the evening.
"I do expect that this event will be a peaceful one as I can see uniformed officers and volunteers keeping watch," he said.