PKR Youth's #KitaLawan movement is proceeding with its mega rally in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon to press for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's freedom, despite a police warning not to go ahead.
Anwar, the opposition leader, is serving a five-year jail sentence after his sodomy conviction was upheld by the Federal Court on February 10. He had earlier unsuccessfully appealed against the conviction in the Court of Appeals.
He was accused of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in 2008.
The rally organisers have also said that the demonstration will be to call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's resignation over his failure to manage the economy and other national issues.
Police have warned the public not to join today's street protest, which will begin at 3pm from three points in the city – Central Market, Masjid Jamek and the PAS headquarters on Jalan Raja Laut – before marching to congregate outside the Sogo shopping centre on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Police said the rally could have gone ahead provided it was held in a stadium, but #KitaLawan organisers had rejected this and opted for the streets instead.
Police have also declared the rally illegal, on the grounds that PKR did not submit enough advanced notice for the event.
PKR vice-president at the PAS headquarters. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, March 7, 2015.Lawyers, however, have said the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 which governs rallies, cannot be used to criminalise gatherings, based on a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal last year that upheld the right to peaceful gatherings.
Get live updates by The Malaysian Insider team covering the rally here:
2.30pm: Outside Sogo, a group of buskers are attracting crowds of protestors.
2.27pm: Around 100 people have gathered now at Masjid Jamek, shouting "Reformasi" and "KitaLawan" as passing vehicles toot their horns loudly. The DAP MP for Ipoh Timur, Thomas Su, has arrived at Masjid Jamek. No other opposition politicians spotted so far.
2.26pm: A protester outside Sogo is holding the portrait of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (King) and says: "Kita tak percaya menteri, peguam. Kita tungu keputusan Agong". (We do not trust the ministers, lawyers. We wait for the King's decision). This is in reference to the appeal for royal pardon sent to the King by Anwar's family.
2.24pm: People have begun milling around outside Sogo, the main rallying point, but there appear to be more journalists than actual protestors.
2.14pm: PKR vice-president Tian Chua has just arrived at the PAS headquarters to lead the marchers here.
2.12pm: Outside the Sogo shopping centre, Anwar supporters chant "Reformasi" – the rallying cry first used in 1998 after he was sacked from government.
2.04pm: At another gathering point outside the PAS headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut, 30 PKR members from Perlis have assembled and are shouting slogans calling for Najib's resignation.
Protesters holding placards as they wait for the rally to start. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, March 7, 2015.2.03pm: A handful of protesters have gathered at Masjid Jamek in front of the monorail station nearby, wearing #KitaLawan shirts in black and holding banners with the words "Undur Najib, undur Rosmah". People are also selling #KitaLawan bandanas outside the Masjid Jamek station. Anti-Lynas activists are also present, wearing green.
MORE TO COME
Wasting time... LOL
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