The police will close off public access to Dataran Merdeka beginning tomorrow morning in a bid to foil an illegal assembly scheduled to take place at the historic site tomorrow night.


 <img align="left" alt="" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/106/df43d241c37807aa5ef6a54f8569b0b7.jpg"/>
 Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman told reporters today that road blocks would also be erected as &ldquo;precautionary measures&rdquo;.


 He also warned the public to steer clear from the area, because the organisers of the planned gathering did not obtain a police permit to do so.


 &ldquo;We will not hesitate to take harsh action against those who are stubborn (and attend the gathering),&rdquo; said Zulkarnain according to
 
 Bernama
 
 .


 The gathering, organised by Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI), is a candlelight vigil to protest against all detention without trial through the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA).


 Civil society groups, including the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), were expected to take part in the silent vigil.


 
 
 Hindraf factor?
 
 


 GMI coordinator Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the group will decide on the next course of action soon.


 &ldquo;This is news to me. I&rsquo;ll have to discuss the matter with my colleagues first,&rdquo; he said when contacted.


 Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran expressed disappointment with the police decision, adding that the police should respect the public&rsquo;s right to assemble peacefully.


 It is estimated that there are 89 ISA detainees currently being held at the Kamunting Detention Centre. The latest additions to the detention centre are
 <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/75999">
 
 five Hindraf leaders
 
 </a>
 who were detained on Dec 13 under the ISA for national security reasons.


 The detention orders, usually for two years, can be renewed at the discretion of the internal security minister.


 In recent months, the police have shown little sympathy to street protests by forcibly dispersing the crowd with tear gas and water cannons. Scores of protesters have also been arrested and charged in court for taking part in illegal assembly.

<img align="left" alt="" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/106/df43d241c37807aa5ef6a54f8569b0b7.jpg"/>
 The police have issued a warning to the public not to attend a planned silent vigil for ISA detainees at the historic Dataran Merdeka tomorrow night.

Dataran Merdeka off limits tomorrow

~RM12

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