Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is not likely to allow student activists to organise their Aug 27 #TangkapMalaysianOfficial1 rally at Dataran Merdeka, KL mayor Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz said.

Amin Nordin suggested that the student group hold the protest at Padang Merbok instead.

“Most probably not (allow them to use Dataran Merdeka). But, (we) will consider (allowing them to use) Padang Merbok if it is vacant,” he responded through a text message yesterday.

However, the mayor said, he would “have to check with the Culture, Arts and Sports Department” to see if Dataran Merdeka is occupied on that day.

Amin Nordin (photo) was asked if DBKL will allow the group to use Dataran Merdeka, whether the venue is occupied on Aug 27 and the authority’s consideration for approving Dataran Merdeka to be used for the rally.

It is DBKL’s standard policy to allow the rally protesters to utilise Padang Merbok, he explained.

“As in the previous year when Bersih applied for permission, we have allowed (them to use) Padang Merbok. Standard policy,” Amin Nordin elaborated.

The police allowed the the street protest to take place at a meeting held between the organiser and the police. Nevertheless, the student groups need permission from DBKL for the planned gathering to be held at Dataran Merdeka.

The rally is organised by a coalition of youth and student groups to pressure authorities into identifying and taking action against the individual identified as ‘Malaysian Official 1' in the United States Department of Justice’s civil suit to recover nearly US$1 billion in assets linked to 1MDB.

So far, the youth wings of PKR, DAP and Amanah have pledged to mobilise its members to attend the rally.

The planned gathering is also backed by electoral reform coalition Bersih 2.0 and a coalition of student and youth groups.