The police have been urged not to allow the ‘Janji Demokrasi' gathering at Dataran Merdeka on Thursday night on grounds that it will interrupt the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry's public address (PA) system there.

NONE Ministry secretary-general Kamaruddin Siaraf ( on the right in picture ) said that all its equipment have been set up at Dataran Merdeka for the countdown that night and the next day's event and that police must not allow any other gathering to be organised there.

Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said has explained that ‘Janji Demokrasi' is intended to hold the government to its ‘Janji Ditepati' (Promises Fulfilled) theme on electoral reform.

"I do not think the police should allow any gathering to be held there (Dataran Merdeka) because we have set up our equipment perfectly. I think that in any event, the PA system is very important. I want to take care of my PA system.

"If they interrupt our PA system, it will make our work troublesome," Kamaruddin told a press conference today.

Ministry set-up started today

He explained to reporters that he would tell the police not to allow any other gathering to be organised in Dataran Merdeka because his ministry has been using the location from today onwards.

"We had a problem with the PA system because it was not in a good condition this morning. I will be anxious if they (Janji Demokrasi) create any problem there," he added.

Kamaruddin, Department of Special Affairs director-general Fuad Hassan and its deputy director Abu Talib Harun were at a meeting finalising the preparations for the Merdeka Day celebrations at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Memorial Hall in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Janji Demokrasi is organised by 47 NGOs who are urging the public to show up at Dataran Merdeka in yellow to remind the federal government of its promises to institute electoral reform.

This event has been dismissed by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who said that he expected a low turnout .

Police confirm: No green light

Late this evening, Bernama reported that police have not given the 'green light' to the Janji Demokrasi organisers to hold their event.

Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad said police today briefed representatives of the gathering for one hour on conditions for holding a rally under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011.

   

"They (organisers) told police the rally will be peaceful and agreed to abide by conditions under the Peaceful Assembly Act. There will be no speches and banners."

Zainuddin said police did not give permission to the organiser as under Section 9 (1) of Peaceful Assembly Act, they are required to give 10 days notice to police, but they failed

NONE "No permission will be given as the organiser has committed an offence by not giving us sufficient notice."

   

He told reporters said police agreed to control traffic to reduce congestion and advised the organisers to control the behaviour of rally participants.

"Police will arrest them (participants) if they violate the Act," he added.

Organiser Maria Chin Abdullah ( above ) said the rally would be held at Jalan Sultan and Dataran Merdeka from 10pm and would disperse after midnight.

"We have agreed with police that there will be no banners, stickers or speeches. Only Pak Samad (A Samad Said) will recite poetry. We promise the rally will be peaceful," Maria added.