Police will close off several main roads leading into the Kuala Lumpur city centre from midnight tonight, ahead of the banned Bersih 2.0 rally tomorrow.

The election reform group has vowed to proceed with its planned demonstration at the Stadium Merdeka despite the authorities declaring it illegal and police warning that participants would be detained.

police parliament blockade traffic jams in city area 140708 05 The Facebook page of the Royal Malaysian Police Force details the plans to block access into the city from key points, and this is expected to cause massive jams.

Many roads in and around locations suspected to be assembly points for opposition rallies are on the list, including Dataran Merdeka, Sogo complex, Masjid Jamek and Bukit Bintang.

“All are urged to cooperate by adhering to traffic rules and directives from traffic officers on duty,” the police say on the Facebook page.

Those who do not have pressing business in the city centre are advised against entering the area on the said date (July 9) to avoid traffic congestion. Cooperation is much appreciated.”

The affected roads

The blockades and diversions are scheduled to come into force at 12.01am, and will affect entry points along the entire stretch of Jalan Syed Putra, Jalan Istana, Jalan Bukit Petaling, Jalan Bellamy and the area surrounding Istana Negara.

NONE Also affected would be the area surrounding the National Mosque in the Lake Gardens vicinity, covering the entire stretch of Jalan Sultan Hishammuddin, Jalan Lembah Perdana and Jalan Chenderasari.

In the city centre, blockades will be set up around Dataran Merdeka, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek, Dataran DBKL, Kompleks Sogo, Maju Junction, Masjid Kampung Baru, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sri Amar, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Haji Taib, Jalan Raja Muda Musa, Jalan Raja Bot, Jalan Raja Abdullah, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Gereja, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Loke, Jalan Sultan Mahmud and all nearby areas.

Acting city police chief Amar Singh also said three major bus terminals - Puduraya, Putra and Pekeliling - would also be shut down, and bus routes diverted around Kuala Lumpur for 22 hours starting midnight.

Riot police trucks and military personnel were seen throughout Kuala Lumpur today, ratcheting up tension in the capital city.

Pre-midnight roadblocks criticised

Meanwhile it appears that roadblocks have been set up in surrounding areas within Selangor.

In the past one hour, Twitter users feeding Kuala Lumpur traffic information via the hashtag #kltu have complained of roadblocks in Klang, Damansara, Subang and Sungai Buloh.

A roadblock has apparently been set up at Summit USJ, while users going from Taman Dato Razali to Ampang Point are suffering the same fate.

Most of the routes are heading into Kuala Lumpur, causing road users to complain of gridlocks extending several kilometres.

Many are using the Twitter hashtag to vent their frustration against the Najib administration for the lockdown, querying why the cops are setting up blocks before midnight. 

Others like user @leekayli, however, is taking it lightly: "Camping on the road in front of Petaling Jaya 33. I have my drink, BB and twitter with me!" 

azlan