Organisers for the Olympic Day Run slated for June 23 at Padang Merbok, which is the venue for the Black 505 rally this weekend, have put off the event, citing health concerns over the worsening haze.
“After due consultation with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), both McDonald’s Malaysia and OCM have agreed to postpone the Olympic Day Run scheduled for June 23, 2013, since prolonged outdoor activities could be detrimental to health,” McDonald's Malaysia posted on its Facebook page at about noon today.
According to the Department of Environment's (DOE) website, both its monitoring stations in Kuala Lumpur reported ‘moderate’ air quality levels of 56 in Batu Muda and 62 in Cheras at 11am today.
The Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded in these two areas had been fluctuating between 55 and 92 so far this week, although the API reported from the Cheras station did shoot up to 105 on June 17 at 5pm.
The Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded in these two areas had been fluctuating between 55 and 92 so far this week, although the API reported from the Cheras station did shoot up to 105 on June 17 at 5pm.
An API of 101 to 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’. This same information has also been posted on the OCM’s official Facebookpage.
Another reason against rally
Previously, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had cited OCM’s booking of Padang Merbok as one of three reasons for not allowing Pakatan Rakyat to use it for its ‘Black 505’ rally on Saturday.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib had said on June 10 that OCM would need the field that day in preparations for the run.
However, OCM honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi (left) later revealed that the event was slated to be held at the nearby Dataran Merdeka instead, but it had been asked to change the venue to Padang Merbok on June 18 due to “security reasons”.
The other two reasons for not allowing the Black 505 rally to be held, according to Ahmad Phesal, are concerns about traffic being blocked on one of the main roads into the city, and possible damage to the surrounding landscape.
He offered to help Pakatan and the NGOs behind the rally to find an alternative venue instead, and suggested Stadium Merdeka and the Air Panas recreational park.
However, ‘Black 505' rally organiser and PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli had insisted that it should be held at Padang Merbok.
“If not, it will set a precedent that under the Peaceful Assembly Act, the people can only gather at closed spaces, like stadiums,” Rafizi said yesterday.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib had said on June 10 that OCM would need the field that day in preparations for the run.
However, OCM honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi (left) later revealed that the event was slated to be held at the nearby Dataran Merdeka instead, but it had been asked to change the venue to Padang Merbok on June 18 due to “security reasons”.The other two reasons for not allowing the Black 505 rally to be held, according to Ahmad Phesal, are concerns about traffic being blocked on one of the main roads into the city, and possible damage to the surrounding landscape.
He offered to help Pakatan and the NGOs behind the rally to find an alternative venue instead, and suggested Stadium Merdeka and the Air Panas recreational park.
However, ‘Black 505' rally organiser and PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli had insisted that it should be held at Padang Merbok.
“If not, it will set a precedent that under the Peaceful Assembly Act, the people can only gather at closed spaces, like stadiums,” Rafizi said yesterday.
Police put off meeting with Pakatan
This evening, Rafizi said the Dang Wangi OCPD had requested a meeting on the rally at the police station this afternoon with him, DAP's Seremban MP Anthony Loke and PAS deputy secretary-general Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi - but cancelled it at the last minute.
Rafizi (right) said in a tweet that the meeting was cancelled as the OCPD was apparently summoned to Bukit Aman police headquarters. Therefore, the Pakatan press conference alsted for after the meeting with the police was also called off.
In his tweet, he also responded to Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang’s tweet, suggesting that the rally be cancelled due to the haze situation.
“I am sure Rafizi Ramli is already getting calls to cancel Himpunan Hitam in view of the haze and (its) health risk. Set aside ego and make the right decision,” Tan tweeted this afternoon.
“Looks like Rafizi is very frustrated now,” he added.
Rafizi returned the salvo, tweeting to Tan: “The bigger health risk is paying attention to your tweets, ha ha ha”.
Rafizi (right) said in a tweet that the meeting was cancelled as the OCPD was apparently summoned to Bukit Aman police headquarters. Therefore, the Pakatan press conference alsted for after the meeting with the police was also called off.In his tweet, he also responded to Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang’s tweet, suggesting that the rally be cancelled due to the haze situation.
“I am sure Rafizi Ramli is already getting calls to cancel Himpunan Hitam in view of the haze and (its) health risk. Set aside ego and make the right decision,” Tan tweeted this afternoon.
“Looks like Rafizi is very frustrated now,” he added.
Rafizi returned the salvo, tweeting to Tan: “The bigger health risk is paying attention to your tweets, ha ha ha”.
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