KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 – The Black 505 rally, organized by Pakatan Rakyat to show displeasure in the running of the recently concluded 13th general election, kicked off in earnest this afternoon with supporters starting to march from several meeting points in the federal capital to Padang Merbok.
By 2.30pm, eye-witnesses said that about 8,000 people had gathered at Padang Merbok.
Ground reports indicate that the rally is much smaller than anticipated with opposition supporters trickling in to the meeting points before the start of the march to Padang Merbok.
At Universiti Malaya student based NGOs gathered at the Al-Rahman mosque led by Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM).
Safuan Anang of SMM assured the police that it will be a peaceful march all the way to Padang Merbok.
“We will not create a riot, that’s for sure. We sure hope the police will also work with us and look out for the safety of the protesters,” he said.
Student activist Adam Adli who was also present, said that they will do their best to not to cause traffic congestions.
“We will only stick to the one lane that the police have allowed us to use, we would even use sidewalks where available,” he said. We have mobilised four motorcycles for emergency purposes, all those with the yellow band will also assist the police in controlling the crowd,” he added.
The crowd started marching towards Brickfields at 1.10pm, they will be merging with the 500-strong crowd there lead by Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah.
Badrul Hisham Shaharin, SAMM, left journalist covering the event wondering with his puzzling statement.
“Do you think the people are scared? We will show them. The SPR (EC) leaders must resign. SPR is dirty and the leaders are liars. They are evil, they are the devil (syaitan).
“When we get the signal we will all go into Padang Merbok and show them the power of the people,” he said.
PSM’s secretary-general S Arutchelvan meanwhile requested rally-goers not to shake hands or to chat with the police.
Another activist, Hishammudin Rais meanwhile told the crowd not to support Pakatan Rakyat MPs and assemblymen who do not take part in the rally.
A bigger crowd, numbering about 5,000, is expected to reach Padang Merbok shortly from Jalan Sultan and Sogo shopping complex.
Heavy haze
Earlier, despite heavy haze blanketing Kuala Lumpur city centre, crowd for the Black 505 rally began gathering at meeting points throughout the federal capital.
The haze, which seems to have worsened overnight, has not deterred opposition supporters from turning up at seven designated meeting points before they start the march towards Padang Merbok, which is barely 2km from the police headquarters Bukit Aman.
This rally is being organised to show Pakatan Rakyat’s displeasure against the running of the recently concluded 13th general election, which Pakatan claims was rigged.
The opposition pact made up of DAP, PKR and PAS, want the Election Commission top office bearers to resign and take responsibility for the electoral flaws in the last general election.
The police have declared this rally illegal after the organisers failed to obtain approval for the use of Padang Merbok from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
DBKL did not give its approval to use the venue because it was booked for a run. However, organisers of the run cancelled the event two days ago due to the haze.
The police meanwhile had indicated that they would facilitate the rally as long as it doesn’t get out of hand. There are Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel on standby at the Travers police station.
Pakatan leaders are expected to start their speeches at 3pm.
Ground reports at noon are indicating a lesser crowd for the rally with the seven meeting points recording low turn up.
The only crowd swell is at Jalan Sultan, better known as Chinatown.
Other meeting points are Jalan Pekeliling, Jalan Raja Laut, Sogo shopping centre, Brickfields, Universiti Malaya dan Masjid Negara.
The police personnel are keeping an eye on the gathering crowd while the traffic police are keeping the traffic flow smooth.
Rafizi: Come as soon as you can
More opposition supporters are expected to turn up at Padang Merbok as the day proceeds.
They would listen to some speeches at the venue before concluding the event around 5pm.
“Everything is going fine without any obstacles. Asking the people to come as soon as possible,” Rafizi Ramli, PKR election strategy director and Pandan member of parliament said in a Twitter this morning.
FT Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor along with DBKL officers and the police had arrived at Padang Merbok at about 12.50pm to monitor the situation.
He also urged the organisers to move the gathering to Stadium Merdeka, an offer which was once again rejected by Rafizi.
Meawhile PKR vice president and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar in her message said:” It is your constitutional right to assemble peacefully. Your lives cannot be dictated by police, Umno or the Prime Minister.”
This rally today follows a series of nationwide rallies called by Pakatan supremo Anwar Ibrahim to challenge the electoral fraud. It also comes just days before the new parliament convenes on Monday.
– FREE MALAYSIA TODAY
