On November 19, 1974, more than 1,000 rubber smallholders and farmers demonstrated in Baling, Kedah, over falling rubber prices and rising cost of essential food items such as sugar and flour. The demonstrations went on for another two days. And grew by the third day to more than 13,000. They demanded that the government announce measures to alleviate the suffering of the people within 10 days. When the deadline expired with no response from the government, on December 1 about 30,000 people massed and marched through Baling to show their growing frustration. When students from the University of Malaya and ITM started their own demonstration on their campuses in sympathy with the plight of the villagers, the police moved in with tear gas to breakup the protest. Anwar Ibrahim and Ibrahim Ali were among the leaders of this student demonstration.
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