Exhaustion sets in for activist on third day of hunger strike

Exhaustion sets in for activist on third day of hunger strike

Published: Jul 12, 2024 11:51 PM


A pro-Palestine activist on a hunger strike to protest the sale Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) shares to a Blackrock-linked company has received medical treatment.

M Mythreyar, 46, who is on the third day of his hunger strike, received glucose via intravenous drip after his body became increasingly exhausted.

“A doctor came in the evening. She examined me and found that my body was weaker so she gave me glucose through a drip.

“It’s the third day today and my body is weaker, but my spirit remains strong.

“I will continue the hunger strike until the government gives its final word on MAHB and Blackrock,” he told Malaysiakini.

On July 10, Mythreyar, who is from Tanjung Malim, Perak, began his hunger strike, which he said would continue until the government called off the MAHB deal.

He began his strike in front of the Parliament building on Wednesday morning before moving to Dataran Merdeka due to bad weather.

Before this, he also joined silent protests in front of KLCC and Mandarin Hotel and slept for seven days near the US embassy.


Lack of sleep causing weakness

Mythreyar revealed that he was in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad building in Dataran Merdeka today.

He said he experienced dehydration yesterday.

“I have not eaten for three days. I only drink water once every four hours after experiencing dehydration on the second day,” he said.

He believes the weakness felt in his body is caused by a lack of sleep.

“I sleep here at night. It rained heavily last night. I couldn’t sleep.

“Worse, there are loud motorcycle noises at night. There are many mat rempit (illegal speed racing) here.

“Maybe that is why my body feels weak,” he added.

His friends had offered to sponsor him a hotel room to sleep in at night, but he rejected it.


‘No govt reps have come to meet me’

Mythreyar, whose friends call him “Mike”, said he has received strong public support.

“Many whom I know and do not know have come to meet me. Tangga Batu MP (Bakri Jamaluddin) met me yesterday to say that all Perikatan Nasional leaders support my demand,” he said.

Others who have shown him support include Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM); Sekretariat Solidariti Palestin (SSP); Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions for Malaysia (BDS Malaysia); Gegar Amerika; Friend of Palestine, and several social media influencers.

“There were those who came in the morning and were with me until two or three in the morning (the next day).

“But no government representatives have come to meet me though there were text messages wishing me luck in my struggle,” he said.

He went on to express gratitude to supporters, including police officers who frequently check up on him.

“I think this is the spirit of unity showed by all parties in opposing Zionism,” he said.

He also rejected claims that his hunger strike was aimed at launching him into fame.

It is meant to represent the majority of Malaysians who do not support the MAHB deal, he explained.

“What is the role of a government? To carry out the requests of its people. What is the problem in cancelling the agreement with Blackrock or GIP?

“This hunger strike is not an insistence but the request of Malaysians to a street activist who came into being in Dataran Merdeka in 1998,” he said, referring to the 1998 Reformasi protest.

Mythreyar also joked that he had learnt to save money since the start of his hunger strike.

“In these three days, I have spent only 60 sen to go to the toilet. Looks like I’m learning how children save money,” he said, smiling.

Last week, Deputy Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan said Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) had expressed readiness to become a minority shareholder in MAHB and is prepared to relinquish its stake within a short period.

He also said that GIP was chosen based on strict criteria, including its willingness to appoint Malaysian citizens to be the chairperson and managing director of MAHB.

GIP is in the process of being acquired by Blackrock as its fully owned subsidiary. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.

GIP has said its existing leadership team will retain full control of the company and companies it has invested in after the acquisition by Blackrock is complete.

Blackrock is the world’s largest asset management company and has come under criticism for investing in companies that supply weapons to Israel.