Rally stays put at Stadium Merdeka, says Pakatan
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Despite Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh's suggestion for organisers of tomorrow’s People's Uprising Rally to change the venue to Bukit Jalil, Pakatan Rakyat is determined to keep to its plan to gather at Stadium Merdeka.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said that as Pakatan has already made preparations for Stadium Merdeka, to change venue at the last minute would be impossible.
“This is the final day before the rally. The preparations at Stadium Merdeka have come to the final stage, the sound system is already prepared... We will not change the venue,” he told reporters at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
He added that the historic stadium at the heart of the city is a convenient location due to easy public transportation access, the mode of travel for most participants.
“Most of the participants will take public transport. They will disembark at the Puduraya bus terminal and the train station (which) is close to Stadium Merdeka.”
If there is a change of venue, he said, it will be difficult for organisers to ferry them.
PKR vice-president Tian Chua, who was also present, supported Mohamad’s statement, describing the changing of venue as “academic”.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh suggested Bukit Jalil stadium as the venue for the rally because it could accommodate more participants.
Crowd to 'walk' to stadium
Asked on whether the participants marching from gathering points to the stadium would be defined as “street protest”, Mohamad dismissed this.
He said that police had already agreed to the plan and the crowd will “walk” to the stadium.
“…This is not a street demonstration, it is just like we are walking to the pasar malam,” he reiterated.
Chua added that the street protest is walking without a “final destination”, whereas for Saturday’s rally the participants will converge at the stadium.
According to the rally’s secretariat, there is an additional gathering point at Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya, which will be led by PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Tantawi. This has increased the initial seven points to eight.
Meanwhile, activist Hishamuddin Rais announced that the rally itinerary will include singing the national anthem, and speeches by leaders of Pakatan parties as well as NGOs.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said that as Pakatan has already made preparations for Stadium Merdeka, to change venue at the last minute would be impossible.
“This is the final day before the rally. The preparations at Stadium Merdeka have come to the final stage, the sound system is already prepared... We will not change the venue,” he told reporters at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
He added that the historic stadium at the heart of the city is a convenient location due to easy public transportation access, the mode of travel for most participants.
“Most of the participants will take public transport. They will disembark at the Puduraya bus terminal and the train station (which) is close to Stadium Merdeka.”
If there is a change of venue, he said, it will be difficult for organisers to ferry them.
PKR vice-president Tian Chua, who was also present, supported Mohamad’s statement, describing the changing of venue as “academic”.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh suggested Bukit Jalil stadium as the venue for the rally because it could accommodate more participants.
Crowd to 'walk' to stadium
Asked on whether the participants marching from gathering points to the stadium would be defined as “street protest”, Mohamad dismissed this.
He said that police had already agreed to the plan and the crowd will “walk” to the stadium.
“…This is not a street demonstration, it is just like we are walking to the pasar malam,” he reiterated.
Chua added that the street protest is walking without a “final destination”, whereas for Saturday’s rally the participants will converge at the stadium.
According to the rally’s secretariat, there is an additional gathering point at Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya, which will be led by PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Tantawi. This has increased the initial seven points to eight.
Meanwhile, activist Hishamuddin Rais announced that the rally itinerary will include singing the national anthem, and speeches by leaders of Pakatan parties as well as NGOs.
Hishamuddin (far right) also announced that organisers strongly discourage the use of private vehicles by rally participants and urged them to use public transport to reach the rally points.