Najib demo: Police to erect roadblocks, strict checks at Putrajaya roads

Summary

• Cops will set up roadblocks around Putrajaya ahead of a planned solidarity rally for ex-PM Najib Abdul Razak.

• Police reiterate warning against joining the rally.

Police will erect roadblocks around Putrajaya and check individuals entering the administrative capital ahead of a planned rally tomorrow.

Putrajaya district police chief Aidi Sham Mohamed repeated police warnings against protesters joining a solidarity rally for jailed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak at the Palace of Justice.

“The public is prohibited from joining the rally in Putrajaya tomorrow because it does not have permission from the venue owner and thus does not fulfil the requirements under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

“Police will take strict action against anyone who joins the gathering for breaking the law.

“Police will also conduct several roadblocks at roads leading to Putrajaya, and we will perform stringent checks on every person who wants to enter Putrajaya tomorrow to ensure they carry no weapon, banner or placards that contain seditious or offensive messages related to the rally,” he said.

Umno and PAS had initially planned the rally to show their solidarity with Najib, who will attend a court hearing on Monday regarding the purported royal addendum allowing him to serve his remaining prison sentence at home.

However, Umno cancelled its participation after Istana Negara issued a statement on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s pardon prerogative and a warning from the inspector-general of police not to hold the rally.

Despite this, PAS said it would proceed with the gathering.

Among the last notable times that police had erected roadblocks to hamper a rally was during the Bersih protests in Kuala Lumpur.

During the days leading to the Bersih 2.0 protest in 2011, police conducted roadblocks along major thoroughfares in the Klang Valley, causing massive peak-hour traffic jams.

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