Malaysians stage rare anti-govt protest over fuel

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Reuters) – Nearly 1,000 Malaysians protested in the capital on Friday against fuel price rises, the first significant anti-government demonstration in years.

Protesters, led by the main opposition Islamic party, chanted anti-government slogans and called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down over his government’s decision this week to raise pump prices by another 20 percent.

“Prices rise, Badawi should step down,” said one banner.

“We ordinary people are suffering. This is a betrayal by the government,” Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) deputy chief Nasharudin Mat Isa told the rally outside the Petronas Twin Towers, headquarters of state oil company Petronas.

Dozens of riot police, backed by water cannons, kept a tight security cordon around the 88-storey towers.

Reuters