A last-minute switch from Dataran Merdeka to Padang Merbok as the venue for Sunday's Olympic Day Run by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has raised the eyebrows of quite some people.

NONE At least one netizen has cried out that this is "a conspiracy", on grounds that the venue switch is to give the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) strong reason to reject PKR's application to use the Padang Merbok a day earlier for Pakatan Rakyat's KL ‘Black 505' rally.

Shortly after noon today, OCM announced on its Facebook site that it was changing the venue for the run that it had booked last year.

"Please take note that the venue for the Olympic Day Run scheduled on 23 June 2013, Sunday at 7.30 a.m. in Dataran Merdeka, has been changed due to unforeseen circumstances.

NONE "The new venue for the Olympic Day Run 2013 is now at Padang Merbok, Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur. We regret for all inconveniences caused," states the OCM Facebook posting.

Checks by Malaysiakini with the council's website, as well as that of the event sponsor McDonald's, clearly list the venue as Dataran Merdeka.

One Facebook user commented on the venue change: "... cos they wanna let DBKL has valid reason to reject the black rally on this sat. they can say the gathering will spoil the preparation of McD run"'.

Enough time to prepare

In an immediate reaction, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli said he is "bemused" by the last-minute change of venue, but stressed that it would not "mean much" to PKR's planned rally at Padang Merbok.

"The race is on June 23, our rally ends at 6pm (on June 22). They have a full 12 hours to prepare for the race, as was their required time they informed to DBKL and was told to me by the council's officers when I submitted our application."

NONE He reiterated that Padang Merbok does not have a function on June 22, and the venue change should not be used as an excuse to disallow the KL leg of the 'Black 505' Rally.

Rafizi ( left ) instead expressed pity for OCM as he believe they are being dragged into the matter because of "political interference", and must have been ordered to change the venue at the last minute.

He also said that as far as PKR is concerned, and as has been decided by the leadership council, they will stand firm on their plans to organise the rally at Padang Merbok, and will not submit to KL Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib's suggestion that the gathering be moved to Stadium Merdeka.

"If not, it would set a precedent that under the Peaceful Assembly Act, the public can only gather at closed spaces like stadiums," explained Rafizi.

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