Despite stern warning from the police, organisers of this Sunday's said rally will go since precedents have already been set by Umno.

badrul hisham shaharin altantuya police questioning 290509 03 "As usual, the police will always give us a warning , saying that it is an illegal gathering," said one of the coordinators, former PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

"But recently, it has been Umno strategy to organise another demonstration at the same time.

They were so serious that they even held a ‘rehearsal' on Friday, marching from the Shah Alam mosque to the Istana Selangor.

"About 100 of them were there, including the Umno Shah Alam division leader and there was not a single arrest by the police."

However, he said that the presence of another planned protest by another anti-Pakatan group could just be an excuse for police to disrupt their peaceful gathering.

"The gathering of this other group is also expected to get media coverage to build a negative perception that our gathering will turn unruly and that a fight will break out.

"10,000 of us will meet with 100 of them, so don't worry. Our marshals will let them peacefully hand over their own memorandum first," said Badrul, more popularly known as Chegubard.

In his blog posting this afternoon, he also said that the palace officials have apparently agreed to receive the memorandum.

News reports say the Selangor government is planning a rally to appeal for royal intervention in the state's water tussle with the federal government and water concessionaire Syabas, which may see water tariffs shoot up by 37 percent.

Rally participants intend to march from the National Mosque to Istana Negara, where they hope to submit the document to the Yang diPertuan Agong.

GAPS changes venue and time

Also, an anti-Selangor government group calling itself Gagasan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor (GAPS), is planning a counter-protest against the Khalid Ibrahim administration's alleged "abuse of funds" and alleged"corruption".

Urging rally participants to be vigilant, he also gave "tips" for intended participants, including bringing salt, water and a small towel.

It is an old wives' tale that salt could alleviate the effects of tear gas.

Meanwhile, the Selangor menteri besar's political secretary Faekah Husin has urged the police to be professional when dealing with tomorrow's protest.

She said that the Masjid Negara gathering is a peaceful event and the organisers will cooperate with the police.

In another development late tonight, GAPS announced that it will not be gathering at Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur as originally planned. 

GAPS chief Hamidzun Khairuddin said in an SMS message that the group will now be meeting at Stadium Merdeka at 11am and will call a press conference at 12 noon.