Malaysian Capital Locked Down For Rally

Malaysian police on Friday prepared to lock down the capital ahead of a controversial electoral reform rally which has triggered fears of chaos in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Organisers had agreed to hold Saturday's protest at a stadium after complaints that a planned street protest could turn into a riot, but the deal was thrown into confusion after police refused to give the necessary permit.

Bersih organisers said the rally would now be held outside Merdeka Stadium, despite warnings from authorities who have already arrested more than 200 people accusing them of drumming up support for the event.

"We are heading for the stadium," said Andrew Khoo from Bersih, an opposition-backed coalition of civil society groups that is organising the rally.

"We will keep our focus on the basic demands... which is to campaign for free and fair elections. We won't be distracted," he told AFP.

Major roads in the capital will be closed from midnight Friday, public buses plying city routes will be diverted, and long-distance buses will be halted at terminals outside Kuala Lumpur.

Police have also obtained a court order to bar 91 leading activists from downtown areas.

"The police will take whatever action within their power to guarantee the safety and public security is maintained in this country," federal police chief Ismail Omar told reporters.

Another police official said about 230 people have been arrested so far in the pre-rally roundup. Most have been released, but six people, including an opposition lawmaker, are being held under a security law that allows detention without trial.

Protests are illegal in Malaysia without a permit. Street rallies are rare but in the past they have drawn tens of thousands of people, with police using water cannon, tear gas and baton charges to clear the crowds.

Khoo condemned the police response as a "gross overreaction" and urged authorities to allow the protesters inside the stadium to preserve safety.

"It is such a breach of fundamental rights of freedom of movement. There is no risk to public order because we have always maintained this will be a peaceful gathering," he said.

Authorities have insisted that Bersih choose another venue far from the capital.

"We want the groups to hold their events outside of KL to prevent the possibility of innocent people in the capital being caught between groups hell-bent to disrupt things," said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Fears of clashes with police have grown as the youth wing of the ruling party has said it will hold a counter-protest outside the stadium despite that event also being declared illegal.

Among those detained, 26 people have been charged over their involvement with an unlawful society, which carries a maximum prison sentence of several years.

The protest is backed by opposition parties who complain they are the victim of underhand election tactics.

With national elections due by 2013 but expected to be held earlier, Bersih is demanding reforms including measures to prevent vote-buying and fraud, and equal media access for both the ruling party and opposition.

The Barisan Nasional coalition has ruled Malaysia for half a century but in 2008 elections a resurgent opposition made unprecedented gains, stunning the government and reshaping the nation's political landscape.

- Agence France Presse

Oops! Before you leave this page, don’t forget about your plan to go for your touring and travelling trip. We provide instant hotel booking facilities for you here. Just click the following banner and you’ll get your lowest accommodation rate of your choice!