At the stroke of midnight, “Kepung Demi Palestin” protesters at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur called for a permanent ceasefire for the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The group’s spokesperson, former PKR vice president Chua Tian Chang, ended the night by reading a declaration urging for four demands to be met.
Since December 26, the “Kepung Demi Palestin” protesters had been picketing at the US Embassy to demand a permanent end to the violence in Gaza, attributing the United States with prolonging the fight. Their demands included the end to the apartheid system throughout Palestine, and a fair, peaceful, and lasting solution for all in Palestine.
“Starting today, Jan 1 2024, and every day after, we stand together in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Chua Tian Chang said.
A candlelight vigil preceded the declaration, before the crowd broke into songs and most were seen leaving peacefully at around 1am under the watchful eye of the police. Earlier in the night, speakers such as former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu called for a permanent end to the violence.
For the last six days, protesters had been “occupying” areas near the US embassy in a symbolic representation of the occupation in Palestine.
