Police have offered alternative venues to the Kita Lawan Coalition, to hold their March 7 rally in support of freeing jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and protesting against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"Dang Wangi OCPD (Asst Comm Zainol Samah) offered us the venues of Padang Merbok or Stadium Merdeka instead of outside the Sogo mall, " said DAP youth chief Teo Kok Seong.

He said the police told him they could manage traffic better if the rally were held at either of these two venues instead of at Sogo as insisted by the organisers.

Teo ( right ) was speaking to reporters after attending a one-hour meeting with police to discuss the rally participants' safety as well as traffic management. Accompanying him were student activist Adam Adli and PKR youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

"Nik, however, informed the police, that Kita Lawan will stick to the original plan (rally at Sogo) for the time being," said Teo.

He said the coalition didn't directly turn down the police offer but needed to discuss the suggestion further with the police at their next meeting.

"(The police said) they are waiting for our feedback," added Teo.

Najib ‘undur’ theme too

The touted massive demonstration next weekend is one of a series of weekly rallies organised jointly by over 60 NGOs and civil society parties to express solidarity with the imprisoned Anwar following his conviction for sodomy by the Federal Court on Feb 10.

At a similar Kita lawan rally last Saturday ( below ), police nabbed Adam and PKR supreme council member Fariz Musa after the duo gave speeches outside Sogo.

Nik Nazmi - who was also present at the event - evaded arrest when his supporters spirited him away. This sparked a brief altercation between the two sides in front of the Dang Wangi police station.

Nik Nazmi was arrested at his home later that day and released at 2am after his statement was recorded.

Beside releasing Anwar, the coming Kita Lawan rally also aims to pressure Najib into stepping down following what is claimed to be his failure in national leadership.

When asked if the police is okay with the rally calling for the PM to step down, Teo said this was not discussed.