The Tourism Ministry says it did not try to obstruct supporters wanting to travel to Kuala Lumpur from Kuantan for the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 and Bersih 3.0 rallies on Saturday.

NONE "The Tourism Ministry has no jurisdiction in the matter and did not give any instruction to prevent bus drivers from ferrying passengers to Himpunan Hijau 3.0 and Bersih 3.0 rallies, ministry secretary-general Ong Hong Peng (right) said in a statement yesterday.

Ong said this in response to the accusation by Himpunan Hijau president Wong Tack that the ministry pressured bus operators not to rent buses to the environmental movement, formed last year to oppose the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Pahang.

The coalition has mounted protests against Lamp twice in Kuantan, on Oct 9, 2011 and Feb 26 this year.

Supporters of Himpunan Hijau plan to gather at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) at noon on Saturday before marching to Dataran Merdeka to join the Bersih 3.0 sit-in there at 2pm.

Wong said the ministry's involvement had resulted in in eight buses booked to ferry supporters from Kuantan Kuala Lumpur being cancelled.

Ong said the minister never "carried out such actions".

"The ministry also did not receive any official complaint from the Himpunan Hijau group," said Ong, who urged the coalition to provide information on the "intimidated" bus operators for the claim to be promptly investigated.