The authorities have been urged to facilitate the Bersih 5 rally this Saturday by setting up an observer panel to ensure good police practices.

"I would like to propose something new - that the police set up a panel of observers to observe the rally and affirm the good practice and conduct of the police," former Suhakam commissioner James Nayagam said in a statement today.

"It hoped that the organisers and the police will cooperate so as to ensure a peaceful assembly and with a peaceful ending," he said.

The police, he said, should " allow the assembly to gather without threats or hindrance as they have done in Bersih 4".

Apart from traffic management, Nayagam said the police should provide security and protection to participants.

The former commissioner added Bersih and its participants should also cooperate with the police to ensure the rally is peaceful.

"Maintain peace and good behaviour , co operate with the police in observing boundaries.

"Don't take the law into your own hands," he said, and reminded Bersih not to damage property.

"I have monitored about 50 assemblies in the past and hope all things will work for the good and peaceful harmony of the community," James said.

Observers at the past rallies by Bersih have included members from Suhakam and the Bar Council.

Pre-Bersih 5 tensions

Tensions has been mounting as the countdown to the final days to Bersih's fifth rally takes place on Nov 19 to call for electoral reform and for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak over the 1MDB scandal.

In particular, the red-shirts led by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yusof vowed his group would stop the rally from taking place and have been confronting Bersih's weekly nationwide convoys.

Several of these confrontations have seen episodes of violence erupt.

The rally will take place outside the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

On Nov 9, the organisers stressed they have informed the police ahead of time and provided them with details of the routes.

The massive Bersih 4 rally, spanning two days, saw more than 100,000 people gathered at the city centre, without any incident.

The police have been credited for having provided assistance to ensure the rally remained peaceful.