'Black 505' rally to hit KL on June 15

Pakatan Rakyat will hold a rally in Kuala Lumpur to protest alleged electoral fraud in the 13th general election concluded on May 5.

"We have decided to support an initiative to hold a peaceful rally in Kuala Lumpur on the evening of June 15," PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim told a press conference after the Pakatan leadership council meeting this afternoon.

He said the coalition will engage with Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar and security agencies to ensure that the rally is peaceful.

Asked if this will be held in a stadium or if it will be a street demonstration, Anwar replied that the rally secretariat will furnish details in due course.

The rally will continue a series of protests around the country against alleged electoral fraud. Dubbed ‘Black 505', it kicked off in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, on May 8. 

Anwar also announced that Pakatan will holding a day-long convention for all its MPs and state assemblypersons on June 23, also in Kuala Lumpur.

The coalition will further back Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's suggestion that a state committee of inquiry be set up in Pakatan-led states to investigate allegations of electoral fraud.

However, he said this will be subject to the consideration of the three states - Penang, Selangor and Kelantan - as to whether such a committee is necessary.

Private Member’s Bill on IPCMC
                        
Anwar condemned the recent string of custodial deaths, the latest involving engineer P Karuna Nithi, who was the third victim in 11 days.

"We had condemned it when it happened with A Kugan (right)but yet it still continues to happen. We will continue our efforts to push for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (to be set up).

"In the meantime, immediate action must be taken by the home minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) against those responsible for the deaths. Stop giving excuses.”

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, who was present, said Pakatan has agreed to form a six-member committee to prepare and table a Private Member’s Bill on this during the upcoming sitting of Parliament.

"The committee will comprise two MPs from each of Pakatan’s (component) parties to look at tabling (the) Bill," he said.

He reiterated his hope for another 23 BN MPs to vote along side Pakatan's 89 MPs, for a simple majority to get the Bill through.

Also present at the press conference was PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali.