VIDEO | 2 min

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has warned deputy inspector-general of police Bakri Zinin not to behave like an Umno division leader by curbing Saturday’s 'Black 505' rally rally at Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur.

bakri zinin police cid chief p balasubramaniam pc 100708 04 Anwar said this will be a peaceful gathering and police should not be imposing restrictions or issuing warnings.

“There have been no disruptions to 14 previous rallies nationwide, except they have taken action against the organisers on the instructions of Umno," he said.

“(Bakri, right ) should not be another Umno division leader by taking a hard stand against the rally."

Instead, he should invite Pakatan to a discussion to facilitate the rally, said Anwar.

Bakri had warned last weekend that the police may act against if the rally proceeds without the proper permits.

"We already have laws and will enforce those laws. We will take action according to those laws. We will look at the situation. If there is a need, we will take action," he had said.

However, Anwar said the scenario in the country has changed since the 13th general election last month and that the police need to be reminded of this.

“Do not ... disrupt the rally. We do not want any confrontation as this rally will be peaceful. Hence, please do not threaten us,” he said.

Fifteenth rally to date

PKR’s Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said the gathering will go on regardless.

NONE “We have three demands, namely the Election Commission (EC) chief and deputy chief along with the commissioners should resign following allegations of electoral fraud.

“Pakatan Rakyat must be consulted in the (upcoming) redelineation exercise, as well as in the appointment of the new EC members.”

Johari (right) echoed PKR vice-president Tian Chua’s warning that the rallies will continue nationwide until the demands are met.

Saturday's rally is the 15th in the series to date and there have been no untoward incidents at any of these, noted Johari.

Johari urged participants to wear black to Saturday’s rally and to gather at the seven identified meeting points from noon.

“Participants will march at 2pm to Padang Merbok where there will be speeches and songs, just as in Petaling Jaya, from 3pm,” he added.

To questions on whether its 89 Pakatan MPs will boycott the swearing-in on Monday, Anwar said they will come to participate.

“Contrary to what Pandikar Amin Mulia said, an elected representative has six months to be sworn in. We will be there as we want to participate in this sitting as we have also submitted the name of former Federal Court judge Abdul Kadir Sulaiman as the speaker, and in the spirit of parliamentary democracy the opposition should be consulted.

“It is also naive for Umno information chief (Ahmad Maslan) to urge us to boycott as Umno/BN had also filed their petitions as well. Hence, it seems they have problems with the EC,” he said.

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