A group of  netizens wearing yellow t-shirts jogged around Dataran Merdeka in heavy rain late yesterday evening, as a “sarcastic response” to the Kuala Lumpur mayor’s assertion that the square can only be used for ‘national events, sports and cultural activities’.

NONE Organiser Chong Kok Siong set up the event via Facebook on Monday and received about 40 pledges to run, while another 36 said they were considering doing so.

Although the rain yesterday evening slashed the turnout, those who showed up completed the run as planned.

Bersih steering committee member Liau Kok Fah, who was among the runners, said many supporters were trapped in traffic jams and were unable to join the jog.

NONE The runners gathered at the nearby Tugu Negara before running to Dataran Merdeka, making four laps around the field and back, covering a distance of about 5km.

When leaving Tugu Negara, the group had eight runners but was joined by a few more at Dataran Merdeka.

Many were wearing the T-shirts prepared for the scheduled Bersih 3.0 sit-in protest at the square on Saturday.

The group also showed support to students and social activists who have been occupying the square for the past 11 days.

Coincidentally, Bersih steering committee member Wong Chin Huat was giving a talk to the students at the time. He said Kuala Lumpur is a “federal colony” and not a federal territory, because Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) members are not elected.

About 10 DBKL enforcement officers were at the square, but did not take any action against the runners.

‘Warm up for Bersih 3.0’

Chong said the mayor - an unelected official - had downgraded Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) to “Dataran Sukan dan Budaya” (Sports and Culture Square).

NONE Saying that the jog is a “warm-up” for the Bersih 3.0 rally, the social activist asserted that earlier events at  Dataran Merdaka had often been politically-charged and that the square therefore belongs to the people, not the government.

And since DBKL merely managed the site, Chong added, it had no reason to deny permission for the rally - if at all permission was needed to use it.

Liau said every city should have a public space, or it would become a “dead city”.

As an example, he said that Beijing - although the capital of a totalitarian state - houses the Temple of Heaven park where people can gather to exercise, dance, sing and practise Qi Gong, among other activities.

Liau, who is chairperson of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall’s Civil Rights Committee, said Dataran Merdeka is suitable for similar purposes.