Bersih Sabah will hold its Nov 19 rally at Taman Ujana Rimba Tropika, Kota Kinabalu instead of Padang Merdeka, reported the New Straits Times.

This is following Kota Kinabalu City Hall's refusal to allow the initial venue to be used for the rally.

The new location, which is a public park, was appropriate, and rally-goers there would not violate any laws or disrupt traffic flow, a Bersih Sabah spokesperson was quoted as saying in a statement today.

“All participants are advised to avoid parking their cars around the park as police would be using the space for their personnel and assets on that day.

“Bersih Sabah will also issue a notice to inform district police chief Assistant Commissioner Chandra Muthu, as required in Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012," said the spokeperson.

The notification letter would be resent to City Hall for the new location, according to the statement.

Kota Kinabalu mayor Yeo Boon Hai was reported as saying that Padang Merdeka could not be used for the Bersih rally as it was closed for maintenance and upgrading works.