POLICE are anticipating between 10,000 and 15,000 people to participate in the upcoming ‘Himpunan Turun Anwar’ rally on 26 July, which is being organised by Dewan Pemuda Pas, the youth wing of the Islamist party.
Acting Kuala Lumpur Police Chief, Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad, confirmed preparations are well underway, including the deployment of more than 2,000 officers and personnel to maintain public safety and manage the crowd.
“The organisers have informed the Dang Wangi District Police Chief of the planned gathering. Following this, we have taken proactive measures to ensure security and to help facilitate the rally while preventing any untoward incidents,” he said during a press conference on Friday at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters.
Participants are expected to gather at four key locations—Sogo, Masjid Jamek, Masjid Negara, and Pasar Seni—before marching to Dataran Merdeka, with assembly expected to begin at midday and the march scheduled to start at 2pm.
“We will implement strict crowd control measures. I urge all organisers and participants to rally peacefully and behave responsibly,” said Mohamed Usuf.
He stressed that while the constitutional right to peaceful assembly is recognised, police will not hesitate to act under the law against any attempts to provoke unrest.
“Do not ignite flares or burn objects. Gather respectfully. We all share the responsibility of ensuring public safety,” he added.
When asked about road closures, he said such decisions would be made based on the situation and requirements on the day itself.
Organisers had earlier estimated the rally could attract as many as 50,000 participants nationwide. On 12 July, PAS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan confirmed that mobilisation efforts were ongoing at every parliamentary and state level.
He asserted that the rally would be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, in line with the constitutional guarantee of the right to assemble. - July 18, 2025
