Flashmob 'sleeps' on road divider to champion rally

The unusual effort by 15 ‘Flashmob 505' protesters to call for the resignation of the Election Commission (EC) heads ahead of Saturday's rally caught the attention of rush-hour motorists along Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The group, which had gathered near the Masjid Jamek LRT station at 6pm, laid themselves down along the road divider amidst busy evening traffic.

Calling for the EC leaders to step down, the protesters also carried placards and banners to urge participation by the public in Saturday's ‘Black 505' Pakatan Rakyat rally.

Some of the demonstrators were also seen holding up flags of opposition component parties PAS, PKR and DAP, while female protesters stood by the roadside holding balloons with the number ‘622' on it - the date for this weekend's rally.

Among the student leaders at yesterday's event were Mohamad Safwan Anang and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia propaganda director Edy Noor Redzuan.

During their 40-minute protest, the 15 were closely watched by a group of police personnel.

However, unlike last Saturday's ‘Flashmob 505' event which saw 15 participants arrested outside Sogo shopping complex, yesterday's demonstration ended without any untoward incidents.

Seven assembly points

On Saturday, Pakatan Rakyat and NGO leaders are expected to gather at seven assembly points before making their way to Padang Merbok, where the rally is to be held.

This is despite Kuala Lumpur City Hall's refusal to allow the use of Padang Merbok for the rally, insisting that the field had long been"booked" by the Olympic Council of Malaysia to prepare for a run it is organising the next day.

The rally is the latest in a series of gatherings nationwide to highlight alleged electoral fraud during the May 5 national polls.

Rally organisers are demanding for the EC chief, its deputy chief and five commissioners to quit; Pakatan to be consulted on the appointment of the new EC members as well as the upcoming electoral redelineation exercise.