Police today began deploying men and equipment around Kuala Lumpur today and cordoned off Dataran Merdeka for officers and men to be stationed there in anticipation of tomorrow's Bersih 2.0 rally.

At 3.30pm, Malaysiakini saw at least four water cannon trucks and seven riot police trucks parked at Dataran Merdeka.

NONE The officers there were tight-lipped, but one of them, who did not want to be named, said no one was authorised to speak to the media, but admitted that they moved into Dataran Merdeka about 10am today.

"There are about 200 police (officers) here, and more will arrive tonight," he said.

The officer also said the officers and men at Dataran Merdeka worked on shifts, with replacements coming from Universiti Malaya, where the police have taken up temporary residence.

At 3.45pm another five blue police trucks with about 10 riot police personnel in each rolled into Dataran Merdeka.

Tourists turned away from Dataran Merdeka

Tourists who wanted to visit the historical site were turned away, leaving some puzzled.

A tourist from Brazil, Tissiana Costa, said she read about the Bersih rally while she was in Bangkok and was rather surprised at the show of force by Malaysian police.

"If there is a demonstration, I would like to observe and learn about it. However, with this display of power, maybe not," she said.

Costa, who police turned away from entering Dataran Merdeka, said that it reminded her of the former military regime in her home country.

"Brazil is a democratic country that came out of military rule... I hope Brazil can be a good example for Malaysia," she said.

"They can stop me from going in, but they can't stop me from taking pictures. This is going on Facebook."

NONE Another tourist from Hong Kong, Douglas Ho ( left ), said he read about the protest in the local papers.

"I think it's something about elections. I saw it in the papers, I read about the 91 people who were not allowed to come to KL," he said.

Ho, who was with a group of tourists from Hong Kong and Canada, lamented about the lockdown in the city.

"If there is no where we can go, then we have to stay in the hotel," Ho's wife said.

Locals uneasy about police action

A local freelance photographer, who declined to be named, felt there was merit to the Bersih 2.0 rally and hoped no one would get hurt tomorrow.

"In some sense it is (legitimate), because we are in bad shape, so we need change. I will be there tomorrow to tell the story as it is," he added, holding his sturdy camera firmly.

Another passerby, who would only say that she had recently graduated from university, was exasperated over the police action.

NONE "I feel it's funny. I think on one hand the government is afraid, but on another hand the government has the authority to do what it is doing," she said.

"I don't want to be arrested under ISA," she added, tentatively, as she constantly peered over her shoulders at two policemen who were standing behind her.

Asked if she would join the Bersih 2.0 rally tomorrow, she said: "I don't know, we'll see tomorrow."

Bersih 2.0 is a coalition of more than 60 NGOs advocating for free and fair elections.

The police have denied Bersih 2.0 a permit to hold its rally, citing public order and safety.

Several roads will be closed from midnight in the lockdown of Kuala Lumpur in the move to prevent protesters from getting into the city centre.