Police did not issue an approval letter for the rally at the Kelana Jaya Stadium last Wednesday, but instead in reply requested that the rally be postponed, Petaling Jaya police chief ACP

Arjunaidi Mohamed said.

He said the police had not even signed any approval letter for the rally as alleged and being circulated on social networking sites.

NONE “The letter that is being circulated on the social networking sites is an application letter from the organisers to hold the rally, which is signed by Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (right) .

"I did not sign any approval letter for the rally, I only issued a reply asking the organisers to postpone the rally.

"The reply was issued after the organisers gave a short notice to the police, that was at 12.20pm the same day the rally was held,” he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

He said the police asked for the postponement to ensure that they would have enough time to make necessary preparations in terms of deployment of policemen and alerting the public.

NONE "The organisers’ failure to give a 10-day notice to the police had also made it impossible for the police to discuss with the organisers matters concerning traffic flow and parking areas.

"We were also unable to give early notice to the public and the business community," he said.

Arjunaidi said due to the inadequate preparations, the police were deluged with calls and complaints, including via the social media, about the massive traffic congestion that night.

On the allegation that the stadium had been gazetted as a public rally venue, he said there was no place ever gazetted as such. 

“The stadium was never gazetted as a rally venue... only a minister can gazette a venue, not a state government and definitely no other quarters,” he said.

Arjunaidi said the investigation on the rally was being carried out  by the Selangor police contingent’s criminal investigation department.

Investigations ongoing, says IGP

Meanwhile, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar told reporters in Kuala Terengganu today that police will call on the relevant quarters, including political party leaders, to give their statements on the rally and that investigations were ongoing and action would be taken as the rally was illegally held.

NONE The illegal rally participated in by opposition leaders is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 due to seditious elements in speeches, and Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 as the event was held without a permit.

The event  was held to protest against the results of the 13th general election on May 5, which the opposition alleged was fraudulent.

Commenting further, Ismail said the election process was carried out according to democratic practices.

“The people have chosen, so don’t do something that can worsen the situation,” he said, urging the public not to give or write opinions which could destroy unity.

“Don’t create controversy which could affect public order and scare the public,” he added.

- Bernama

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