Dataran Merdeka is not allowed to be used for the protest gathering against the goods and services tax (GST) scheduled for May 1.

"They (the organisers) can look for another venue, for example, Padang  Merbok, and not use Dataran Merdeka as it is still under repair," Kuala Lumpur mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib said after introducing the co-sponsors and the Kuala Lumpur Mayor's Tourism Awards 2014 (KLMTA) trophy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.