(The Star) - Organisers of an Opposition rally here on Saturday say they are not out to create an “Arab Spring” and have no intention to bring down the Government.
“This is our end route to call for free and fair elections,” said social activist and blogger Badrul Hisham Shaharin.
He added that the organisers would comply with police directives at the rally and hand over any troublemaker during the event.
The so-called “black” rally at Padang Merbok, however, is deemed illegal because the organisers have allegedly failed to meet the requirements of the Peaceful Assembly Act and get approval from City Hall to use the field.
Furthermore, the Olympic Council of Malaysia had booked the field in preparation for an Olympic Run that would be held on Sunday.
Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib had suggested that the rally be held at a stadium but the proposal has been shot down by the organisers.
(The Arab Spring refers to the wave of demonstrations that led to riots and civil wars in the Arab world since 2010, forcing governments to fall in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen.)
Badrul Hisham, who chairs NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and blogs under the name Chegubard, said some supporters planned to camp at Padang Merbok and the nearby Dataran Merdeka ahead of the rally.
“As SAMM chairman, I support this but I will meet these groups to see how we can plan this (camping out) in an organised manner,” he said.
He reiterated that the rally would demand for the resignation of the entire Election Commission and make calls for fresh polls in constituencies where there were alleged irregularities.
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