KUALA LUMPUR — At least a thousand people rallied in the city centre on Saturday to express solidarity with Palestinians and protest against Israel’s brutality in Gaza.
The rally, organised by Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia, was the latest in a series of pro-Palestinian protests held in the country.
Scores of protestors were seen gathering at a fast-food outlet in Bukit Bintang since 8pm and the group marched to the main entrance of a shopping centre at the heart of the city.
Aside from Malaysians, foreigners were also seen at the street donned in keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, to demand for the freedom of Palestine.
Chants such as ‘Free, free Palestine’ and ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ echoed through the streets.
Protesters carried placards calling for peace for the oppressed Gazans, with messages such as 'Ceasefire NOW! and ‘It is genocide, Israel has no respect for humanity’.
A content creator Farah Syakira Mohamad Kamal, 32, told Sinar Daily that she joined the rally to demand an end to the genocide in Palestine.
She highlighted the role of social media in raising her awareness about the situation.
"I receive a fair amount of social media content that help me be more aware about the genocide in Palestine,” she said.
Asked about the boycott, she said that she would continue boycotting brands known to have funded Israel and would support local brands instead.
Meanwhile, designer Mikael Abdullah said that viral social media trends such as the ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ which was made by fellow Malaysian also helped him to be more steadfast in standing up for the Palestinians.
A German businesswoman married to a Malaysian Liza Kummrow, 31, said that she stands for the oppressed regardless of her location.
"Social media has helped me to be more responsible as a German to stand up for Palestine, regardless of where I am staying,” she said.
On the other hand, 20-year-old student Alisha Nair said that social media such as TikTok has helped her tremendously in being aware about the current situation of Palestine, such as the recent beheading of Palestinian babies, which has angered her and become the reason she came down to the rally tonight.
Another student Jason Mow Anak John, 21 said that he had been religiously boycotting Israeli brands and constant social media postings had made him aware of what was happening in Palestine.
Also seen during the protest were social media influencer Hafiz Mahamad.
The rally concluded peacefully after the police personnel who had monitored the rally asked the crowd to disperse at 9.50pm.