Rafizi (left), Johari (centre) and Fong speak to the press after the meeting with City Hall and the police today. — Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is still insisting on using the Padang Merbok field here for its “Blackout 505” rally, with PKR’s Rafizi Ramli saying that giving in to the authorities’ suggestion of a stadium would set a “bad precedent” for future peaceful gatherings.
Rafizi said the people would want to exercise their right to freedom of assembly as long as it does not breach the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“I think that remains a critical point because if we were to accept the argument and also the precedent, that means there will be not be any other gathering in open, public spaces after this.
“It sets a very bad precedent,” the PKR strategy director told reporters after a meeting with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the police.
According to Rafizi, no new points were raised in the meeting, with the authorities insisting that the opposition pact use a stadium instead of an open space, while PR still wants to use the field near the landmark Dataran Merdeka in the city centre here. “It’s still a deadlock. I think it’s status quo,” Rafizi said.
Two PR leaders, PKR’s Datuk Johari Abdul and the DAP’s Fong Kui Lun, also attended the meeting they said was called by the city mayor.
The PR leaders said the pact’s leadership council will make a final decision on this matter.
PR has held “Black 505” mass rallies across the country since May 5 to protest against alleged vote-rigging in Election 2013 that saw the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) retain power, despite losing the popular vote.
MORE TO COME
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