They plan to protest the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) by taking to the streets, and together with the organiser, Bersih promised a bigger turnout than Bersih 4.0 rally last year.
With or without permit from the police and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), they will proceed, and even defying order to use Padang Merbok instead of Dataran Merdeka.
Bersih is not anymore about fair election but to protest anything the Barisan Nasional government does. They now play the Opposition role!
An application to hold a rally protesting against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) this Saturday has been rejected by Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).
Dang Wangi police chief Asst Commissioner Zainol Samah said the application notice submitted by the organiser on Jan 12 was not approved due to a failure to present an authorisation letter from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
According to him, any organiser who wished to conduct any rally had to abide by the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which required that the venue landowner’s authorisation was obtained.
“In this case, the organiser should get the authorisation from DBKL first, before submitting the notice.
“The meeting between the organiser and the police yesterday also suggested that they switch the venue to Padang Merbok for the purpose of public safety,” he said at a press conference at Dang Wangi police headquarters.
However, Zainol said that the organiser refused to change the venue because the proposed area was unlikely to attract the public’s attention, unlike Dataran Merdeka.
The protest rally, organised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), namely Bantah TPPA and Kongres Rakyat, expected to have a turnout of more than 20,000 participants. It was to be held from 2.30pm till 5pm.
Zainol added that action would be taken if any of the participants created chaos during the assembly.
It is known that participants will gather at Masjid Negara, Masjid Jamek, Jalan Raja Laut and areas close to Maju Junction Mall before heading to Dataran Merdeka via public transport.
Meanwhile, electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 will join the protest against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) alongside the coalition of NGOs calling themselves Bantah TPPA, its deputy chairman Azlan Awang said, while adding the group’s attendance was much appreciated.
Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah meanwhile vowed the turnout of this protest would be greater than the Bersih 4.0 rally of last year that called for institutional reforms in the country.
Others who will join Bersih in the protest are the National Human Rights Society (Suhakam), Institute Rakyat and Tenaganita.
Azlan also said that the coalition of NGOs had given the police notice of the protest 10 days in advance, in accordance with the requirements of the Peaceful Assembly Act and had met with Dang Wangi district police chief Zainol Samah on the matter.
“The police are mindful of events that might lead to undesirable situations, so we will cooperate with them,” Azlan said at a press conference today.