A short gathering of anti-rape activists outside the Bangsar Shopping Complex in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon saw heavy police presence despite agreement by the campaigners to disperse.

About 25 activists from the All Women's Action Society (Awam) and their supporters turned up today to mark the cancellation of their proposed march down Jalan Maarof in Bangsar to protest against a rising number of sex crimes as highlighted by the Canny Ong case.

They unfurled a 12-foot long banner which said, "Citizens Against Rape: Towards a Violence-Free Community". The activists also clipped notices to the banner saying "Cancelled! Our rights to peaceful assembly denied".