Many Protesters Provided Transportation, Accomodation, Money

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The opposition boasts of never having to pay its supporters to take part in any activities or rallies boils down to a pretentious talk. A protester at a Bersih 3.0 rally, Wan Ismail Wan Mad, 34, said he and other PAS members and supporters from the Tumpat division were provided with transportation, accommodation and RM150 pocket money by the party's division. "We arrived here three days ago. During the 9 July rally last year, my friends and I had coughed out our own money, but this time around we were provided transportation, a hotel and pocket money," he told Bernama. Another supporter, who identified himself as Azli, 25, said the pocket money, accommodation and transportation spurred him on to take part in the rally. "We arrived here in two buses from Pasir Mas and stayed at a nearby hotel. This made it easier for us to converge at the Merdeka Square," he said. A couple in their 50s from Kedah said opposition members and supporters came in 20 buses from Alor Setar to the capital and they paid only RM10 for the fare compared to the normal rate of RM100. They arrived in the capital Friday and stayed at a nearby hotel. Another protester, who identified herself as Azizah, 23, from Permatang Pauh said she came with two relatives and they were given RM20 each as pocket money by a person known as Mansor. "It amazes me that only one bus came from Permatang Pauh," she added. -- BERNAMA