KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 ― Amid criticism over the perceived curbs on civil liberties, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar gave an assurance today that police will not crack down on participants at tomorrow’s rally against the Goods and Services Tax (GST), organised by PAS.

The national police chief said he had given the greenlight to the organisers to hold the demonstration at Padang Merbok in the national capital, adding that the police will also be on hand to help with crowd control.

“We will give assistance. We will help and facilitate their event. They can exercise their rights there,” he told reporters at an event in Brickfields here.

He warned demonstrators against abusing this freedom of speech.

“But do not push your limit. Exercise your rights carefully. Be careful and remember this,” he added.

Organised by Islamist opposition party’s scholar’s wing, the rally titled “An assembly of the people’s suffering ― 10 days after GST” is expected to kick off from 4pm onwards tomorrow at an open field in the city.

Various groups have staged protests against the tax, with the next demonstration by #KitaLawan organisers held next month on May 1, a day traditionally held for protests by labour unions.

Detractors argue that the GST is “regressive” and that the broad-based consumption tax takes a larger percentage of income from those in the low-income groups rather than from high-income earners.

Economists, however, view the GST favourably, saying that it is necessary to broaden the tax base, but cautioned the government to cut wastage and leakages at the same time to improve the country’s finances.