[1] The rally, which coincided with International Workers' Day, was held in response to the Malaysian government's plan to introduce the goods and services tax on April 1, 2015.
[4] The protest organisers also objected to the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement between Malaysia and the United States, and pushed for greater women's, indigenous peoples', students' and migrants' rights, as well as an increase in the minimum wage.
Moreover, according to the Governor of Bank Negara, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, household debt in Malaysia is 83% of GDP—the highest in Asia—compared to Singapore at 67%, and Hong Kong at 58%.
The rakyat of Malaysia, especially the workers who represent the 99%, will doubtless suffer as a result of GST, regardless of the Government’s spurious claims of its implementation being good for the country.
[15][16] Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor warned the protesters to stay clear of Dataran Merdeka,[17] while Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the protest organisers to adhere to the stipulations of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
[30][31] Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan, meanwhile, termed the rally as inappropriate and that the introduction of GST would still proceed as planned.
This has prompted the Minister of Communication and Multimedia, Dato' Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek to urged the public to respect the journalists' presence as they were merely doing their duty.
[39][40][41][42] An activist, Asiah Abd Jalil was deeply dampened when she alleged that the rally was being hijacked by Pakatan Rakyat even though the organisers were NGOs.
She criticised Unit Amal PAS which forced the rally-goers to hear political speeches by their leaders and blocking access to Dataran Merdeka.