A tale of 2 rallies by Star Presstitude; BN (Bandits NoMoralFront) Vs PR (People Rising)

update 26 May 2013:

From the Media Rakyat video and accounts of those who had been there, the Padang Timur was crowded with standing room only and overflowed to the walkways and fringes of the padang. If that was the case, we can safely estimate the rally to be attended by more than 130,000 at its peak.

~~~~~

The Blackout505 rally at Padang Timur, PJ, adjacent to Amcorp Mall on 25 May 2013, was generally estimated to have a crowd of  between 50,000 to 70,000. It was another successful Blackout505 rally with regards to turnout.


The crowd at about 7:15pm (before the break for dinner at 7:30- 8:30) at Padang Timur, Amcorp Mall PJ.


The crowd at 10:06 pm



The view from high up.

22:34

Dhanush Prithvi
@TheRealPrithvi

Msia is bein swept by de rain of just...rain of black 2 show tat democracy has nt juz died but was nvr born #black505 pic.twitter.com/OEsHevyOVs

In contrast the STAR (a pro BN govt press) reported 100,000 attended the Citrawarna Malaysia launch at Dataran Merdeka at the same evening on 25 May 2013.


~~~report from the STAR~~~~~~~

Drizzle fails to dampen Citrawarna Malaysia launch

Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (right) launches the Citrawarna 1Malaysia at Dataran Merdeka. On the left is Nazri.

KUALA LUMPUR: A drizzle did not deter the public, including foreign tourists, from following the Citrawarna 1Malaysia (Colours of 1Malaysia) event at Merdeka Square on Saturday.

The fest, which started at 5pm, saw about 100,000 local and foreign tourists and 248 MegaFam participants from 23 nations including Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Jerman, New Zealand and Canada mesmerised by the local cultural performances.

Australian Richard McGallen, 38, complimented the Tourism and Culture Ministry for organising a fantastic event.

"I am amazed at the cultural performances...my visit to Malaysia will be a very memorable one," he said.

Hisham Jefri Mohd Ali, 27, from Kelana Jaya, was very excited with the procession of 200 Porche cars and other performances.

~~~~~~~~

Now let us analyse how truthful the reporting was. 

The size of Dataran Merdeka is approximately 155,440 sq ft as shown by google map (right). If each sitting/standing area occupied by each person is 3 sq ft, the maximum number of attendees would be just 51,813. Even if the Dataran Merdeka was crowded with standing room only (2 sq ft) the maximum crowd would be just 77,720 people. Thus, the STAR presstitude is guilty of inflating the numbers by 25 to 50% even if the Dataran Merdeka was fully occupied. 

But because there was no picture at all of the crowd, we can safely say the Dataran Merdeka would not even be quarter-full as witnessed in all cultural events. Most would be foreign invited guests and participants. 

The PR Blackout505 rally at Padang Timur, Amcorp Mall, PJ was held at a larger place. The conservative area of actual field was 225,000 sq ft (see red outline of field area only, right pic). 

If the outer perimeter (walkway) is included, the area occupied by rally attendees is much larger at 260,000 sq ft. Using the 3 sq ft per person area, we have a REALISTIC ESTIMATE RANGE of between 75,000 to 86,667 people. At 2 sq ft per person standing room, the crowd could easily be 112,500 to 130,000.  But hey, no one is counting and no scientific estimates are given, except here. 

At the end of the rally, Anwar Ibrahim tweeted / wrote on his FB page the NST headline "200 flashlights attended a rally in Petaling Jaya". You can see for yourself how much NST (aka Najib SuratKhabar TakOtak).

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151462719231840&set=a.10150536192771840.367649.16194831839&type=1&theater&notif_t=like 

So on one hand, The STAR Presstitude, obviously over-estimated the crowd attendance at the official function at Dataran Merdeka at 100,000 without even showing a single picture of the crowd. How convenient? 

On the other hand, the STAR Presstitude dared not even give a number to the huge crowd gathered at Dataran PJ for Pakatan Rakyat's rally Saturday. This is what The STAR reported:

Big crowd at Pakatan rally at Dataran PJ (Live Updates)

By WONG PEK MEI and BEH YUEN HUI

Rally participants staying where they are with their raincoats and umbrellas listening to the speeches at Dataran PJ. Starpix by ROHAIZAT MD DARUS

PETALING JAYA: A huge crowd gathered at Dataran PJ for Pakatan Rakyat's rally Saturday.

The rally is among several organised by the opposition to protest the results of the May 5 general election.

Police have warned that the rally is illegal as they have not received the 10-day notice as required by law under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

A train passes above as the rally participants gather at Dataran PJ. Starpix by ROHAIZAT MD DARUS

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that those that do not adhere to the act will "pay a heavy price" for their offence.

The crowd, mostly clad in black, started to arrive as early as 4.00pm. The event proper started at 5.00pm with speeches from representatives of student groups and non-governmental organisations.

The NST even totally ignored the number of participants (dared not even mention the number), choosing to emphasize the perceived "illegality" issue.    

PETALING JAYA: The opposition proceeded with their planned gathering at Dataran Petaling Jaya here today despite not giving police notice as required under the Peaceful Assemblies Act 2012.

The assembly which began at 4.30pm was mostly attended by participants who were dressed in all black with some bringing along their babies and children.

Some carried placards with provocative words.

Among those present were Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, PKR vice-presidents Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah Anwar besides PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli.  

It is also understood members of movements like Soladiriti Anak Muda Malaysia, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Parti Sosialis Malaysia and Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas joined in. 

Prior to this, police had said they had not received any notice on the planned assembly.

The act requires at least 10 days notice be given before an assembly can be held. -- BERNAMA

The foreign international press (AFP) is perhaps more honest by suggesting tens of thousands but dared not "cross the line" of giving an estimate of the crowd. So judge for yourself how the main stream media downplay the truth or inflate to please their paymasters.

Thousands defy Malaysia govt, holds rally to protest 'electoral fraud'

Demonstrators gather outside Kuala Lumpur on May 25, 2013, to protest the results of a recent general election. Supporters of Malaysia's three-party opposition coalition held the demonstration, with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim saying he would expose all those behind a "stolen election." -- PHOTO: REUTERS

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia (AFP) - Tens of thousands of people rallied near Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night against alleged electoral fraud, further raising the political temperature after a divisive general election.

The latest in a series of protest rallies over the May 5 elections, which the opposition said were won fraudulently by the 56-year-old ruling coalition, saw a large crowd gather in an open field outside Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia's Home Minister Zahid Hamidi earlier called the rally a "provocation", coming after four people were arrested, including two opposition politicians, actions that sparked allegations of a post-election crackdown on dissent.

There were no reports of any police action against the latest rally, which was to include speeches by top opposition figures, including leader Anwar Ibrahim.