The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will take action against groups involved in Seksualiti Merdeka programmes, while inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said he was willing to meet the gay rights festival's organisers.

Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said DBKL would periodically monitor the situation to ensure efforts to promote or encourage the programme are brought to a halt.

NONE He said the DBKL had the right to take action as such events were not given approval.

"If it is carried out at business premises, we can confiscate the premises, and if it's held in public, we can take action against the organiser," he said.

Raja Nong Chik was speaking to reporters at the Perdana Qurban Ceremony 2011 at Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 programme, which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday and end on Nov 13 at Central Market's Annexe Gallery, is to create greater awareness about equal rights for homosexuals and transsexuals such as gays, lesbians, bisexuals, intersexuals and transgenders.

However, the programme was cancelled after police banned functions organised by any group related to the Seksualiti Merdeka programme to "safeguard public order".

Raja Nong Chik said although such programmes were carried out annually since 2008, DBKL had not received complaints as there was no publicity on the matter.

IGP open to meeting

Meanwhile, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar is prepared to meet with organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 and hear their explanation on the issue.    

azlan "I don't have a problem meeting them. I am willing to meet anyone, as long as they have an objective...because we are talking about peace here.    

"I don't want to risk anything that might jeopardise peace in the country," he told reporters after attending an Aidiladha function at Masjid Bukit Antarabangsa in KL today.    

In a statement here last night, the programme organisers expressed a wish to meet with Ismail to explain their objective.    

They regretted that the public, including the people's representatives, had chosen to condemn the programme.    

Ismail said police would still carry out an investigation as provided for under the law.

On the alleged involvement of former Bar Council president S Ambiga in the programme, he maintained that the police would record her statement and those of the other organisers.     

The programme, set for Nov 2 until Nov 13, was to have been held for the fourth time since 2008.    

However, the organisers did not proceed with it, following protests by various parties which saw the event as an attempt to promote lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality and transexuality.     

- Bernama