KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 ― The 2013 "Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat” held four months before Election 2013 was about 12 times larger than last Saturday’s anti-kleptocracy protest, according to Politweet.

The social media research firm estimated that Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) People’s Uprising Rally held on January 12, 2013, which saw protesters marching from various meeting points in the city towards Stadium Merdeka, had drawn 78,193 people maximum and 63,976 minimum.

The October 14 "Sayangi Malaysia, Hapus Kleptokrasi” (Love Malaysia, End Kleptocracy) rally organised by Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya, was estimated to have a maximum crowd size of 6,372 and minimum 5,326.

Politweet said the crowd estimates were based on photos taken during the event and measurements of areas covered by the crowd.

The anti-kleptocracy rally organised by the federal Opposition pact, held just months before the 14th general election that may be called early next year, had originally targeted a 30,000 turnout that was later reduced to 10,000.

The January 2013 People’s Uprising Rally featured leaders from PKR, DAP, and PAS, including PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. Barisan Nasional (BN) lost the popular vote in the 13th general elections four months later in May.

PR has since broken up, replaced by PH that comprises PKR, DAP, Parti Amanah Negara and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, excluding PAS.