Inspector-general of police Ismail Omar has suggested that Bersih 2.0 hold their rally at Melawati stadium in Shah Alam and apply for the permit as soon as possible under the name of a legal organisation or individuals.

He urged the movement to grab the "golden opportunity" offered by the government.

“I suggested to them to have their rally outside of Kuala Lumpur because the city is congested. It could disrupt traffic, businesses and the public who are not involved in the rally.

NONE “I suggested Melawati Stadium. The Selangor menteri besar has made the offer,” he said during a press conference at Bukit Aman federal police headquarters after meeting with Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

However, Ismail ( right ) said Ambiga was “stubborn” and had insisted on holding the rally at Stadium Merdeka, which is located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

“Malaysia is very big, why do you want to pick a place in the middle of the city and disturb other people?

“How many stadiums are there in the country? Thirty, forty? So pick other places, as long as you can convey your message.

“The government said give them a stadium but did not say it would be the Merdeka Stadium.

“You want to convey a message, let’s say you sit in a stadium in Pahang, does it mean you can’t convey your message?”

When journalists pointed out that Stadium Merdeka enjoys better public transport accessibility compared to Stadium Melawati, which was also the main reason cited by Bersih 2.0, Ismail was not convinced.

"You argue like that... How is there no public transport (in Shah Alam)? (Your argument) does not make sense," he said, adding that Stadium Merdeka is small and still under renovation.

He also reminded that the stadium owner has not granted permission to Bersih 2.0, which is a criteria in applying  for  police permit.

Ismail reiterated that Bersih 2.0 is still an illegal organisation, therefore any application for permit must be made under the name of a legal organisation or individuals.

The police will not impose any deadline on the application of permit although the normal procedure requires the organiser to submit the application 48 hours before the event  takes place.

"I'll be very reasonable to listen to everybody. This is our culture but don't take advantage. The government had given a good offer, take it lah."

However, he repeated what his deputy Khalid Abu Bakar had said yesterday, that action will be taken against those who promote or represent the coalition including wearing Bersih 2.0 t-shirt.

"We will take action according to laws... If they represent Bersih, it is an offence."

 The journalists then asked whether the name 'Bersih' is prohibited, Ismail replied, "Use other names lah".

On the detention of six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists under Emergency Ordinance, Ismail denied that they have been 'upgraded' to Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees.

 PSM had claimed that the six were treated like ISA detainees after they were arrested last Saturday.