Exclusive TOC pictures from the rallies – 2 May

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the country was willing to negotiate with Beijing over the South China Sea dispute to protect its energy exploration projects. China claims sovereignty over most of the area, but several countries, including Malaysia, have overlapping claims. The dispute has led to tensions, with China building artificial islands and being accused of harassing fishing boats in the region. In 2021, Malaysia protested after Chinese vessels entered its maritime economic zone, and it also scrambled fighter jets to intercept Chinese military aircraft in the area.