KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — This afternoon’s massive rally on the streets of Kuala Lumpur against the unpopular Goods and Service Tax (GST) was not fully under control, the police claimed this evening.

Labelling the rally a demonstration, the police cited incidents of alleged vandalism and smoke bombs being thrown by the protesters to back up its claim.

“A clear example that showed the demo organised could not be fully controlled by the organisers was when there was ‘vandalism’ situation created by demo participants.

“Participants still brought along young children without caring about the children’s safety and some tried to create a tense situation by provoking the police by throwing smoke bombs,” the police force wrote in a posting on its official Facebook account about an hour or so after the organisers called for the crowd to disperse.

A photo of a smoke bomb allegedly retrieved from the rally is seen on the official Facebook page of the Royal Malaysian Police.

The police also posted 14 photos under the same Facebook posting titled “DEMO ‪#‎BANTAHGST: INIKAH YANG INGIN DITONJOLKAN?” (Demo #‎BANTAHGST: Is that what was intended to be highlighted?).

Among the photos shown was a black-clad individual spraying the slogan “Revolution Now” on a road divider and spray painted anti-GST slogans on zinc sheets, as well as clouds of orange smoke on the road and amid protesters.

Photos of a red-clad protester holding a child in his arms, as well as a child with a red anti-GST headband sitting in a baby stroller was shown by the police.

In the posting, police accused the rally participants of ignoring the voices of the “majority” of the public which it claimed were affected by the “street demo which had caused traffic congestion and created an unpeaceful environment for traders”.

There has been no reports of injuries or casualties arising from the rally, that is said to have progressed peacefully in a march by a sea of Malaysians clothed in red and black.