KUALA LUMPUR – Dang Wangi police have confirmed receiving a notification about a planned rally in the city this Saturday, but have highlighted that the notice is incomplete. Police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman revealed that the notice failed to include the necessary consent from the venue owner.
On January 17, police responded to the organisers, urging them to comply with the provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“Therefore, the public is advised not to participate in any rally that violates the legal provisions, and strict action will be taken according to the law,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The rally, which was promoted on social media and dubbed “Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah” is set to take place near Sogo, a shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur, followed by a march to Dataran Merdeka at 2.30pm on Saturday.
The rally was organised to call on the public to demand justice and reject tyranny.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail urged organisers to ensure that the rally adheres to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. Speaking at the International Asia Security Summit and Expo 2025 yesterday, he said that compliance with the law is a shared responsibility among the organisers, participants, and police.
“I urge the organisers to revisit the Peaceful Assembly Act and review the responsibilities of participants, assembly organisers, and the police,” Saifuddin said. He added that the police’s role is to facilitate assemblies as long as they comply with established regulations.
The rally is reportedly a follow-up to the student-led assembly in Sabah on New Year’s Eve, which protested against state politicians allegedly involved in corruption scandals. – January 22, 2025
