KUALA LUMPUR – Police will take action against #Lawan protest organisers and participants who gathered near Dataran Merdeka here today, citing National Recovery Plan (NRP) standard operating procedures prohibiting mass gatherings.
Dang Wangi police chief Mohamad Zainal Abdullah told the press that some 400 people took part in the anti-government rally, much lower than the figure of 1,000 given by organiser Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat.
“A few parties organised a protest with the aim of gathering at Dataran Merdeka,” said Zainal.
“We prevented them from doing so, and they gathered only in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka.
“They were given time to gather, and they left peacefully.”
He said NRP rules to curb the spread Covid-19 are still in force.
“During this pandemic period, no one is allowed to gather at all, whether for social, sports or even religious purposes, even if today’s gathering was peaceful.”
Demonstrators began gathering at the Masjid Jamek light rail transit station about 10am prior to their march towards Dataran Merdeka, where police barricades have been erected.
The crowd began moving towards the square about an hour later, chanting slogans against the Perikatan Nasional administration and demanding Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation.
Unable to enter Dataran Merdeka itself, the protesters sat on the road opposite the Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters, continuing their demonstration.
By 1pm, most of the crowd had dispersed without incident. – The Vibes, July 31, 2021
