Anti-graft rally organisers yet to resubmit notice, cops to deploy 400

Summary

• Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa says the organisers of tomorrow’s anti-graft rally have yet to resubmit their notice and prove they have permission from venue owners.

• Rusdi insists that the venue owner’s permission is required under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

• He adds that 400 personnel will be deployed for the rally and police will monitor social media surrounding the demonstration.

The organisers of tomorrow’s anti-graft rally in the capital city have yet to resubmit their notice to the police and prove that they have Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) permission, according to Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa.

Rusdi was quoted by the New Straits Times as stressing that the venue owner’s permission is required under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

“In this case, they sent in a request but it did not have the landowner’s permission.

“As such, we have returned it to them to fulfil that requirement and resend it to us,” he reportedly said.

According to Bernama, Rusdi added that police would monitor social media regarding the assembly and deploy 400 officers and personnel for the event tomorrow. No road closures are planned for now, but they remain subject to situational needs.

Dang Wangi district police have reportedly denied the rally organisers’ notice to hold the protest tomorrow. They planned to gather in front of the Sogo shopping complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman before marching towards Dataran Merdeka.

District police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman claimed that the organisers’ notice was incomplete as it lacked the consent of the venue owners or occupants.

Consent required or not?

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil have defended the requirement, which sparked a backlash against the government including from party leaders in the administration.

Saifuddin reportedly said Dataran Merdeka’s ownership falls under DBKL despite it being a public space.

However, a lawyer has since refuted the minister’s statement, pointing out that the law is clear that the square is a public space that DBKL only oversees.

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