Electoral reform mnovement Bersih insists that the Bersih 4 rally does not need permission from a venue owner because the event will be held within the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka.

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said this has been clarified with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

"If we are not entering Dataran Merdeka, then there is no need for permission, that has been clarified," Maria told reporters outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today.

Earlier today, Dang Wangi district police chief Zainol Samah told a press conference that the rally was illegal as Bersih did not obtain permission from DBKL to use Dataran Merdeka for Bersih 4.

"We will only facilitate if they have obtained permission to hold the rally at the particular place. Then the police will process the notice.

"But in this case, it is unlawful from the beginning. If they don't obtain permission, how do we process the notice?" he said.

Previously, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) had argued that there is no such thing as an "illegal assembly" after Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 was repealed.

Commenting further on the meeting Bersih had with the police today, Maria ( photo ) said they were still in the midst of ironing out details with the police in relation to the roadblocks that will be set up at 18 points near and leading up to Dataran Merdeka.

"We are now in the process of negotiating how we are going to organise (the rally) and get around the 18 points (where there will be roadblocks).

"The police have said that they will help us to facilitate (in terms of) security and also safety of the protesters," she said.

'Bersih as patriotic as anyone'

Maria also gave her assurance that Bersih will not disturb preparations and rehearsals for the National Day celebrations but pointed out the authorities on their part have to also recognise that the movement respected the National Day.

"We take note of other preparations and that's why we are stopping before independence day. (But) Bersih is also part and parcel of Merdeka.

"It's all for the good of the country that we are coming up with all these demands.

"It's not because we want to be difficult. We are as patriotic as anyone here. We (just) want to see change, accountability, integrity (and) transparency happening in this country," she said.

Bersih's mega-rally will be held on Aug 29-30 in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The rally is to demand five things: 1. Clean elections; 2. Clean governance; 3. Save the economy; 4. Preserving the right to dissent; and 5. Strengthening of parliamentary democracy.

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