[UPDATED] No green light for upcoming anti-Anwar rally, says KL police chief 

KUALA LUMPUR – The organiser of the Rakyat Lawan Anwar rally has not been granted approval to proceed with their demonstration on June 29, said Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa. 

The organisers had submitted their notice to the authorities on June 14, he said today. 

However, the demonstration was not approved because Perbadanan Putrajaya did not permit them to hold the rally in front of Seri Perdana. 

The area surrounding the prime minister’s official residence, Seri Perdana, comes under Perbadanan Putrajaya’s purview. 

“In our response to the organisers, we have highlighted several conditions – one of which includes obtaining approval from Perbadanan Putrajaya to use the location. 

“However, since the ‘landlord’ has denied them access to the area, we are consequently unable to approve the rally, and we advised the organiser not to proceed with it. 

“Therefore, any parties that go against this advice will be committing an offence that can be investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. 

“Should the organiser proceed, police will carry out our duty to facilitate them as they are members of the public. But an investigation into the rally will be conducted if there is any report lodged,” he said. 

He added that actions will be taken as empowered by the act, to either stop the rally or make any arrest if there is any violation of the law committed. 

“The act gives the public the right to peaceful assembly, but that’s not their absolute right. 

“So if the rally took place and things escalated into public chaos, then we will take action to either stop the rally or make any arrests, as empowered by the act, to the authorities. 

“We hope that members of the public will refrain from joining this peaceful rally.” 

It has been reported that Demi Negara, the organisation behind the protest this week, is not affiliated with any political party. 

The rally organiser, Aidil Yunus, known on social media as “YB Viral,” said he was the rally’s sole organiser. 

Rusdi added that prior to the announcement of the rally, there was a video of similar sentiment circulated on social media and that there were over 85 police reports lodged by members of the public over the video. 

He also said that the police have opened an investigation into this video under Section 505B of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998. – June 27, 2024