June 29 street protest at Putrajaya to go on, says organiser

AMPANG: The "Demo Rakyat Lawan Anwar" planned for Saturday (June 29) will proceed even without permission from venue owner Putrajaya Corporation, says the organiser.

"We expect at least 600 people to join," Aidil Yunus, the Demi Negara movement coordinator, told reporters here on Thursday (June 27).

He added that the rally is scheduled to begin at 4pm at a public parking lot across from the Seri Perdana Complex.

"Our aim in gathering is to urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to accept and act on our eight demands.

"Among them are lowering the price of diesel and not raising the price of RON95 and gas, and also helping those who have been impacted financially since the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We also want the Prime Minister to address the current rise in the cost of living and stop stifling freedom of speech in the country," he said.

Aidil said the rally was not designed to pressure Anwar to step down but to urge him to improve the administration of the country.

"Despite not allowing us to gather, we hope the police will help facilitate the rally for the sake of the people," he added.

Aidil said he was ready to face any possible action as a consequence of the rally.

"If anything happens, I will be responsible for it.

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"If we spot anyone causing trouble (during the rally), we will hand them over to the authorities," he said, adding that he had sought help from PAS' Unit Amal to help with crowd control.

"Between 20 and 30 of them will be present during the rally," he said.

Aidil reiterated that Saturday's rally will be peaceful.

Meanwhile, the rally's legal adviser Rafique Rashid Ali said he hoped the Kuala Lumpur police chief, the Inspector-General of Police and the Home Minister would help by allowing the authorities to smooth the way for the rally.

"Help Malaysians exercise their right to protest and voice their opinions," he said.

City police chief Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said earlier in the day that the rally was deemed illegal as it did not meet the requirements by law.

He said although the organisers submitted a notice to the police on June 14, they did not get permission from the venue owner, Putrajaya Corporation.

One of the most important requirements under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is obtaining the permission of the venue owner, he said.