Emphasising on the need to respect the right of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz asked: "What if I want to protest at your house?"

Nazri was responding to the organisers of the 'TangkapMO1' rally, who want to gather at Dataran Merdeka on Aug 27.

The minister said the organisers should respect the right of DBKL not to allow protests at the iconic landmark.

"Seek approval from the police. There is an Act (Peaceful Assembly Act). If the police say cannot, then cannot, lah. I understand that approval must also be sought from the landowner.

"DBKL is the owner of Dataran Merdeka. If it says cannot, then cannot lah," Nazri told reporters in Putrajaya this morning.

The Padang Rengas MP also urged police to take action against the 'TangkapMO1' organisers if they insisted on demonstrating at Dataran Merdeka.

"I agree that it is an individual's right to protest peacefully, but they must remember that their right does not negate another's right.

"If they want to protest, respect the rights of others, including DBKL. That is DBKL's land, it has exclusive rights to the field.

"Don't just think of your own rights. Doing what they please without thinking of others. That's how jungle people think," Nazri said.

In a separate event, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Said Othman was asked to respond whether the planned counter-rally by the 'red shirt' group was a form of provocation or otherwise.

Abide by rules and regulations

Azalina however pointed out that the country is a free country which also has laws that allow for assemblies to take place.

“I'm told that the rally done by some of the supporters of Barisan Nasional was quite peaceful last year.

“As long as they abide by the rules and regulations - whoever crosses the line then you have to be answerable to the authorities.

“But until and unless you are containing yourself, you are (merely) expressing. It’s a free country. You can express your emotions,” she said in a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) today.

Last year’s 'red shirt' rally saw scores of people taking to the streets as a counter-rally to the Bersih 4 rally.

The rally, held on Sept 16 last year, was marred by racism with abuses hurled at Chinese journalists and the display of provocative banners.

The students organising 'Tangkap MO1' rally, to call for action against 'Malaysian Official 1', intend to hold it at Dataran Merdeka on Aug 27.

'Malaysian Official 1' in the United States Department of Justice lawsuit refers to a high-ranking Malaysian official who received US$731 million in funds originating from 1MDB.

The official is not named as DOJ is restricted by law against identifying those whose assets it does not seek to seize in the civil forfeiture action.

It is seeking to seize more US$1 billion in assets believed to have been purchased in the US, using funds allegedly stolen from 1MDB.

Those identified by name in the lawsuit are Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's stepson Riza Aziz, Malaysian businessman Jho Low and Abu Dhabi corporate figures Khadem al-Qubaisi and Mohammed Husseiny al-Badawy.

Najib has consistently denied abusing public funds and urged those identified in the lawsuit to clear their names.