Police mount road blocks to prevent Selangor water protest

Police have set up road blocks at major roads leading from Shah Alam to Kuala Lumpur. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — The police set up road blocks in Shah Alam today in a bid to stop protestors from joining Selangor’s planned rally to fight for water rights, in Kuala Lumpur at noon.

The Selangor protest, which will start at the National Mosque and move towards the National Palace, plans to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over the federal government’s possible multi-million ringgit bailout of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas).

“There are four roadblocks in Shah Alam. They are at the Batu Tiga toll, Proton Section 26, the Bukit Jelutong toll heading towards Kuala Lumpur and Persiaran Kerjaya Glenmarie,” a source in the Shah Alam police headquarters told The Malaysian Insider today.

“We want to stop groups or NGOs who want to join the water protest in KL,” he added.

Another group, protesting against the Selangor government, is set to hold a demonstration at the historic Stadium Merdeka in the city.

Police have stepped up security in the city since early morning in view of the two protests and the Barisan Nasional (BN) convention in Wisma MCA here.

Protestors said they expect a crackdown similar to other anti-government rallies held in 2007 and 2008 as riot police and water cannons have been deployed in some areas.

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