The crowd hold signs as they walk into Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Many among the thousands who painted the city’s streets red today said they were there to defend the country against purported Chinese domination, with some expressing anger against the minority group for allegedly insulting their Malay-Muslim leaders and stealing their rights.

Although organisers of the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally previously said the event was not meant to be racially-tinged, some participants openly admitted their objectives were to fight for the rights they claimed were trampled on by the “big-headed” Chinese.

One attendee, Muhamad Ridzuan Sulaiman, said the Malays now play too small a role in the economy, which he alleged is Chinese-controlled.

“For instance, if I wanted to open a shop next to a Chinese owned shop, they would use black magic to curse my shop,” he told Malay Mail Online as rally participants began packing up to leave Padang Merbok this evening.

Riot police form a wall at the entrance of Petaling Street to prevent protesters from breaking through, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Protesters and riot police still a tight knot at the entrance of Petaling Street, moments after water cannons were fired to disperse the crowd, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar Riot police fire water cannons at the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu protesters near Petaling Street, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Riot police fire water cannons at the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu protesters near Petaling Street, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa A protester dressed in red with red face paint waves a Malaysian flag during the rally in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May The crowd chants while listening to a speech at Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Tan Sri Annuar Musa gives a speech at Padang Merbok during the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May Pesaka President Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam gives a speech at Padang Merbuk, in Kuala Lumpur, on September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam speaks at the ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ in Padang Merbok. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Datuk Ibrahim Ali speaks at the ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ in Padang Merbok. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Participants of the 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' rally head to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Red shirt protesters marching through Jalan Sultan Ismail heading to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Protesters marching through Jalan Sultan Ismail heading to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa The crowd walking into Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May A woman wears a red scarf as she attends the red shirt protest in Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May A group of red shirt protesters hold a sign as they walk into Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Hundreds of protesters gather at the National Mosque. ― Picture by Choo Choy May The crowd walking into Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Merchandise branded ‘Himpunan Maruah Melayu’ being sold on the street. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Hundreds of protesters have been spotted at the National Mosque. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Large groups of people are seen streaming into the city for #Merah169. ― Picture by Aizyl Azlee Protesters are seen marching into Padang Merbok. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Protesters are seen streaming into the city for #Merah169. ― Picture by Aizyl Azlee Previous Next

The 21-year-old said although he believed the rally was not expressly anti-Chinese, it was organised due to Malay frustration over certain actions by the country’s ethnic minorities.

“The other races are just waiting for the Malays to fall,” lamented the youth who expressed interest in joining Malay nationalist party Umno.

The sentiment was echoed by another rally participant, 62-year-old Che Hassan from Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.

“We’re not exactly angry at the Chinese. But we’re so angry at the DAP. They are insulting our Malay-Muslim leaders.

“They are messing around with the rights of the Malays, like what they did in Bersih 4. They insulted our leaders there, but here, we have done nothing. We didn’t stir up any issues like they did,” the man said.

City dweller Aziah Mat Dohun told Malay Mail Online that when given the opportunity, the Chinese would “grab the rights of the Malays”.

Asked to explain, the 57-year-old said: “They insulted our ministers. They had the gall to do that because we let them, and because we let the illegal rally Bersih happened.”

She said today’s rally was not meant to pick a fight as it was hoped that the event would result in some positive changes for Malaysia.

“The Chinese must not be ‘besar kepala’ (big-headed),” she said.

Participants of the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally head to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Most of the thousands who had earlier swarmed the streets of the capital have now left Padang Merbok, although a sizeable crowd is still lingering at Petaling Street where riot police had earlier fired water cannons to disperse protesters.

The mass event organised by silat group Pesaka had turned chaotic at intervals earlier in the afternoon when protesters stormed past police barricades to march through the streets.