The police warning is predictable - Kuala Lumpur CPO Zulhasnan Najib Baharudin issued his first public warning against a planned rally at the British High Commission on Sunday, organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

He warned that the planned rally is illegal and that the public should stay away.

"I will take stern action (against participants)," Zulhasnan told a packed press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters today.

Zulhasnan said no police permit has been issued for the event and that those who attend would be violating Section 27 of the Police Act 1967.

Under the law, offenders can be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000 and are also liable to a jail term not exceeding one year.

Zulhasnan said Hindraf had applied for a police permit but that this was rejected.

"I have received the appeal against the rejection but I rejected it after studying the matter," he said.

On the reasons for the rejection, Zulhasnan said the police have received information that "criminal acts" such as "fights" and "arguments" would occur during the rally.

Crime prevention

The police chief confirmed that numerous roadblocks have been erected around the city to prevent rally participants from entering.

"We believe they will be wearing orange shirts," he said in reply to a question.

After the press conference, however, Zulhasnan said the roadblocks were part of a "crime prevention" exercise.

Zulhasnan skirted a question as to whether the police would be using water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan said the police had received information that gangsters would be used during the rally that would disturb the peace.

"These illegal street rallies and demonstrations would surely lead to aggression and these acts can affect the safety and economy of the country," he said in a statement.

Hindraf plans to gather 10,000 Indians to hand a memorandum addressed to the British Queen to support a class-action suit against Her Majesty's government for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years.

A total of US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) is being sought for US$2 million for every Indian residing in Malaysia.

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