The “Himpunan Turun Anwar” rally organised by the Perikatan Nasional opposition coalition kicks off in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Thousands of protesters, who are expected to gather at four designated meeting points in the city centre since morning, will march towards the iconic Dataran Merdeka to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Police estimate a crowd of between 10,000 and 15,000 participants at its peak, but opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin had claimed they could attract up to a million protesters who are unhappy with the government.
Among the top opposition leaders expected to show up and give speeches during the protest are former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
Authorities have given their commitment to facilitate the event, including deploying extra personnel to ensure safety and uninterrupted public transportation operations.
The Malaysiakini team, comprising reporters Hariz Mohd, Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain, B Nantha Kumar, Tan Fu Qi, Annessa Tan, and Firdaus Hanafiah, reports from the ground.