A group of senior citizens from outside Klang Valley dressed in red sitting outside Kompleks Kraf in Jalan Conlay, waiting to be told why they were brought into the city on September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Zurairi AR

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 ― Bus after bus arrived outside the Kompleks Kraf in Jalan Conlay here, dropping off its hundreds of passengers from Sepang, Tanjung Karang, Kapar and further afield even as police close off major roads to facilitate a pro-Malay gathering in the city today.

A large number of the passengers are dressed in red T-shirts but said they did not know there would be a rally in the federal capital today.

“I am only here to take a look,” a smiling Zaharah Ariffin, 59, from Kuantan told Malay Mail Online when approached.

Wearing a red t-shirt and headscarf over her black baju kurung, Zaharah said she came in a three-van convoy from the Pahang capital.

When asked whether she knows of the cause behind the September 16 rally, Zaharah shrugged and shied away.

A gathering of Felda settlers, ostensibly for Malaysia Day, was scheduled at Kompleks Kraf this morning, which did not materialise.

Instead, hundreds of protesters in red have gathered prior to their march to another mass gathering “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” in Padang Merbok held by Malay martial arts group Pesaka.

At the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), a woman who wanted to be known only as Wan, 54, had came from Kampung Gerik, Perak.

“We came in about 20 busses from Perak. A group of us from the same kampung occupied one bus,” said Wan, who professed to be an Umno supporter.

“There was no money given to us. We just came for fun, but I won't be able to march together to Padang Merbok. That's for the young. Some of us will wait here at PWTC until 3pm, I think the bus will be fetching us back at that time.”

When asked if she knew the purpose of the demonstration, she shook her head and said “no”.

Over at Padang Merbok, a woman known only as Normala, 45, said she took a public bus from Seremban.

“We show that we Malaysians are united especially the Malays. To give support to the teens as they are headed towards the negative direction against the government.

“We want to show them that we can stand united,” she told Malay Mail Online.